Molybdenum deficiency

This article is about molybdenum deficiency in humans. For the same deficiency in plants, see Molybdenum deficiency (plant disorder).

Molybdenum deficiency
Molybdenum
Specialty	Endocrinology

Molybdenum deficiency refers to the clinical consequences of inadequate intake of molybdenum in the diet.

Because the amount of molybdenum required is very small, and the element is plentiful, molybdenum deficiency has never been observed in healthy people. ^{[1] [2] [3]} However, it has been seen once, in 1981, in an exceptional case of a patient receiving long-term parenteral nutrition that lacked molybdenum. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]} This should not be confused with the molybdenum cofactor deficiency, which is a genetic inability to metabolize molybdenum and is universally fatal within the first days of the infant's life. ^[6]

Signs and symptoms

Descriptions of human molybdenum deficiency are few. A patient receiving prolonged parenteral nutrition acquired a syndrome described as ‘acquired molybdenum deficiency.’ This syndrome, exacerbated by methionine administration, was characterized by high blood methionine, low blood uric acid, and low urinary uric acid and sulfate concentrations. The patient suffered mental disturbances that progressed to a coma. ^[7] Pathological changes occurring in individuals with a genetic disease that results in a sulfite oxidase (a molybdoenzyme) deficiency include increased plasma and urine sulfite, sulfate, thiosulfate, S-sulfocysteine and taurine; seizures and brain atrophy/lesions; dislocated lenses; and death at an early age.

Treatment

300 mcg ammonium molybdate per day can bring about recovery of acquired molybdenum deficiency. ^[8]

See also

• Molybdenum cofactor deficiency

References

1. "Office of Dietary Supplements - Molybdenum". ods.od.nih.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
2. Micronutrients, Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on (2001), "Molybdenum", Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc, National Academies Press (US), retrieved 2025-05-17
3. Oskarsson, Agneta; Kippler, Maria (2023). "Molybdenum - a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023". Food & Nutrition Research. 67. doi:10.29219/fnr.v67.10326. ISSN   1654-661X. PMC   10770642 . PMID   38187804.
4. Sardesai VM (December 1993). "Molybdenum: an essential trace element". Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 8 (6): 277–81. doi:10.1177/0115426593008006277. PMID   8302261.
5. Johnson LE (October 2018). "Molybdenum: Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity". Merck Manual Professional. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
6. Reiss, Jochen; Bonin, Michael; Schwegler, Herbert; Sass, Jörn Oliver; Garattini, Enrico; Wagner, Silke; Lee, Heon-Jin; Engel, Wolfgang; Riess, Olaf; Schwarz, Günter (2005-05-01). "The pathogenesis of molybdenum cofactor deficiency, its delay by maternal clearance, and its expression pattern in microarray analysis" . Molecular Genetics and Metabolism. 85 (1): 12–20. doi:10.1016/j.ymgme.2005.01.008. ISSN   1096-7192.
7. "Molybdenum". Linus Pauling Institute. Oregon State University. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
8. "Ammonium molybdate Advanced Patient Information". Drugs.com. Retrieved 2024-02-01.

Further reading

• Nielsen FH (April 2003). "Trace Elements". In Caballero B, Finglas P, Toldra F (eds.). Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition (Second ed.). Academic Press. pp. 5820–28. doi:10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/01204-9. ISBN   978-0-12-227055-0.