Molybdenum is one of those minerals that few people hear about or know much about, so if it sounds foreign to you have no worries; you are not alone. It is one of the body’s trace minerals, and it is stored in many of the body’s vital tissues including the human brain, liver, spleen and lungs. Molybdenum is also stored in the bones and the skin.

Molybdenum is actually made up of a series of enzymes, including xanthine oxidarse, aldehyde oxidease and sulfite oxidase. One of the primary purposes of this mineral is to help to split apart the sulfite toxins that accumulate in the body; they are said to work as antioxidant. Sulfites are commonly found in the body as they are included in preservatives. Because of this, certain drugs and some foods that are rich in protein may contain sulfites. When the body has a certain level of sulfite and nothing to break it apart, it may experience a reaction similar to that of an allergic reaction.

Molybdenum is essential to the body’s ability to metabolize fats, carbohydrates and nitrogen. It is one of the key components of the key enzymes that work to metabolize sulfur and purines, and is necessary in producing many types of necessary enzymes.

Molybdenum is a necessary component for proper cell function. It is vital for defending the body against cells that are linked to causing cancer, and it is the mineral that helps to keep a person alert. Without molybdenum, the body would have difficulty regulating the blood sugar levels, and helps to protect against tooth problems, including cavities and tooth decay.

Molybdenum is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Once it enters the tract is it absorbed and sent to the kidneys, from which it is eliminated. You can find this mineral in leafy green vegetables, beans, rice, yeast products, whole grains (including cereal and bread) and hard tap water. The word ‘hard’ implies that the water contains a lot of minerals, so it is a good source of any type of mineral. Molybdenum is also sometimes found in low fat milk. There is no recommended daily allowance for molybdenum as it is quite difficult to run short of it, but if one were to somehow develop a molybdenum deficiency, the symptoms would be very similar to those of another type of mineral deficiency. The only instances in which a person would lack enough of this mineral is if they were, on a consistent and continued basis, consuming food that came from land that completely lacked the mineral. Symptoms of a deficiency can include arrhythmia, mood swings and irritability, a decrease in the amount of urine the body creates, and the lowered rate that fatty acids are oxidized in the body.

In addition, a person with a molybdenum deficiency would probably be very tired very easily, and males may experience unexplained impotence. Unfortunately, molybdenum deficiencies can cause certain types of cancer, so it is important to make sure you are getting the right amount, without going overboard.

If a person is in a situation where they might not naturally attain appropriate levels of this nutrient, it is suggested that the normal person consume between 75 and 250 milligrams of the mineral each day.

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