Molybdenum: benefits, dosage, contraindications

Mis à jour le 7 November 2025

Molybdenum (Mo) is a transition metal that most organisms need to live. In the human body, molybdenum is considered an essential trace element, found in very small amounts in the body. The foods highest in Mo are animal products such as liver, kidneys and dairy, followed by plant-based foods like legumes, cereals, nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, tomato and zucchini. Atmospheric air contains molybdenum and it is estimated that humans inhale about 0.1 µg daily. Black tea and soy reduce its digestive absorption; conversely, iron, zinc and copper have positive effects on its metabolism. The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 μg of Mo per day for a healthy adult. Fluctuations in the body's molybdenum content can disrupt purine metabolism because it is essential for the conversion of purine bases into uric acid. True molybdenum deficiencies are not known, but in patients with absorption disorders such as Crohn's disease or those receiving parenteral nutrition, molybdenum deficiency has been correlated with migraine, nausea and vomiting, as well as tachycardia. Molybdenum deficiency may also play a role in the increased incidence of esophageal cancer in certain regions of Africa, Russia and China.

Family or group:

Minerals and trace elements

Indications

Scoring methodology

EFSA approval.

Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with consistently positive conclusions for the indication.

Several randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trials (> 2), including a significant number of patients (>100), with positive conclusions for the indication.

One or more randomized studies, or several cohorts or epidemiological studies, with positive conclusions for the indication.

Clinical studies exist but are uncontrolled, with conclusions that may be positive or conflicting.

No clinical studies to date that can demonstrate the indication.

molybdenum deficiency
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True molybdenum deficiencies are not known, but in patients with absorption disorders such as Crohn's disease or those fed by parenteral nutrition, molybdenum deficiency has been correlated with migraine, nausea and vomiting, as well as tachycardia. The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 µg of Mo per day for a healthy adult.

Posologie

Oral

30 - 50 µg

Nutritional deficiencies of trace elements
Trace elements: role and advice from the community pharmacist

esophageal cancer
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Molybdenum deficiency may play a role in the increased incidence of esophageal cancer in certain regions of Africa, Russia, and China.

Posologie

Oral

30 - 50 µg

Molybdenum: an essential trace element in human nutrition
Nail molybdenum and zinc contents in populations with low and moderate incidence of esophageal cancer

Properties

Essential

Molybdenum is an essential trace element. It plays a key role in the human body as a cofactor for several essential enzymes. These enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase and sulfite oxidase, depend on molybdenum for their catalytic activity. Xanthine oxidase is involved in the breakdown of certain purine compounds, while sulfite oxidase is necessary for the normal metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. In addition, molybdenum also participates in the conversion of folic acid to a biologically active form.

Usages associés

molybdenum deficiency

Anticancer

In animal research, molybdenum supplementation reduces the incidence of mammary and esophageal tumors. Molybdenum acts on cancer by inhibiting cancer cell growth, stimulating apoptosis, and reducing tumor angiogenesis.

Usages associés

esophageal cancer

Safe dosage

Adult 19 years and older: 30 µg - 2000 µg

The recommendations of the French Food Safety Agency are intakes of 30 to 50 µg of Mo per day for a healthy adult. Molybdenum is safe in amounts that do not exceed 2 mg/day, the tolerable upper intake

Pregnant woman 19 years and older: 50 µg - 2000 µg

Molybdenum is safe when used in amounts that do not exceed the tolerable upper intake of 1.7 mg/day for women aged 14 to 18 years, or of 2 mg/day for women aged 19 years and older.

Breastfeeding woman 19 years and older: 50 µg - 2000 µg

Molybdenum is safe when used in amounts that do not exceed the tolerable upper intake of 2 mg/day for breastfeeding women aged 19 years or older, or 1.7 mg/day for breastfeeding women aged 14 to 18 years.

Infant 1 to 3 months: 17 µg - 300 µg

Molybdenum is safe in amounts that do not exceed the tolerable upper intake, which is 0.3 mg/day for children 1 to 3 years old, 0.6 mg/day for children 4 to 8 years old, 1.1 mg/day for children 9 to 13 years old, and 1.7 mg/day for adolescents.

Child 4 to 8 years: 22 µg - 600 µg

Child 9 to 13 years: 34 µg - 1100 µg

Child 14 to 18 years: 43 µg - 1700 µg

Molybdenum is safe in amounts that do not exceed the tolerable upper intake level (UL): 0.3 mg/day for children 1–3 years, 0.6 mg/day for children 4–8 years, 1.1 mg/day for children 9–13 years, and 1.7 mg/day for adolescents. nn