MOLYBDENUM – AN OLDER FEMALE/BLENDING ELEMENT, AND SOMEWHAT TOXIC TODAY

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

GENERAL

Molybdenum is an older female element. This means that it has a generally feminizing effect on the body. Copper is a newer female element that is directly antagonistic to molybdenum. Molybdenum is a very alkaline-forming element used extensively in industry It is found in many foods, and is toxic, so it is not used much at all, if ever, in newer nutritional balancing programs.

SOURCES OF MOLYBDENUM

· Meats/organs - pork, lamb, beef liver

· Nuts/seeds - sunflower seeds

· Vegetables - soybeans, lima beans, lentils, peas

· Grains - buckwheat, oats, barley, wheat germ, sorghum

FUNCTIONS OF MOLYBDENUM

Excretory - purine metabolism

Metabolic - fat, aldehyde, uric acid metabolism, copper, iron and sulfur homeostasis

Detoxification - of copper, sulfite, sulfate, aldehydes

Skeletal - gout and cancer preventive?, high molybdenum in dental enamel

Molecular - electron transfer agent reacts with flavins

METALLOENZYMES

· Xanthine oxidase - purine metabolism

· Aldehyde oxidase - oxidation of aldehydes

· Sulfite oxidase - oxidation of sulfite

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

Few symptoms in humans, possible dental caries. In animals, depressed growth and increased mortality.

TOXICITY SYMPTOMS

Acute - diarrhea.

Chronic - gout, copper deficiency symptoms such as hair loss, anemia, loss of hair color, osteoporosis, weight loss and growth retardation.

SYNERGISTS

iron, sulfur in enzyme reactions, fluoride in teeth

ANTAGONISTS

Absorption – methionine, protein, sulfur, zinc, copper in the diet.

Metabolic - Molybdenum is a powerful copper antagonist.

HAIR ANALYSIS NOTES

· Hair molybdenum levels are not that useful in the author's experience.

· The ideal molybdenum level in the hair is probably about 0.003 mg% or 0.03 ppm, but I a not sure about this.

· High molybdenum is seen in some cases of occupational exposure or excessive supplementation.

REASONS FOR MOLYBDENUM SUPPLEMENTATION

· To lower an elevated copper level or reduce symptoms associated with elevated copper such as fatigue, headaches, skin problems, premenstrual tension or others. Excess supplementation can lower copper excessively. However, molybdenum is somewhat toxic, so I do not use it unless other methods are not sufficient to correct a high tissue copper level.

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