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📰Read the full Molybdenum evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ Neonate with refractory seizures + low uric acid + elevated urinary sulfite — screen for MoCD. cPMP therapy (Nulibry) can be lifesaving for Type A [2] [5]
⚠ Lens dislocation (ectopia lentis) in a child — differential includes MoCD, homocystinuria, and Marfan syndrome [2]
🥗 Food first — build your daily 45 mcg
Check the foods you regularly eat — the bar fills toward your daily target.
Black-eyed peas, cooked (170 g)288 mcg
Beef liver, cooked (85 g)104 mcg
Lima beans, cooked (170 g)142 mcg
Yogurt, plain (245 g)11 mcg
Milk (240 mL)10 mcg
Potato, baked (1 medium)16 mcg
Banana (1 medium)15 mcg
Whole wheat bread (1 slice)12 mcg
Check your regular foods above
☑ Risk checker
Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) — autosomal recessive genetic disorder [2]
Prolonged TPN without trace elements (historical — one documented case) [1]
Population-level: essentially no dietary deficiency risk [1]
Select factors
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Plasma uric acid
Plasma uric acid
Reference range / target
Normal range (3.5–7.2 mg/dL males)
Normal range (3.5–7.2 mg/dL males)
When to test
If MoCD suspected (uric acid is very low in MoCD due to absent xanthine oxidase activity) [2].
If MoCD suspected (uric acid is very low in MoCD due to absent xanthine oxidase activity) [2].
Very low uric acid in a neonate with seizures strongly suggests MoCD [2].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Infants 0–6 months: 2 µg/day AI; children 1–3 years: 17 µg/day; 4–8 years: 22 µg/day [1]. MoCD presents in the neonatal period with refractory seizures, feeding difficulties, and lens disloca
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: If included in multivitamin, take with food [1].
💊 With food: No specific requirement [1].
🚫 Avoid: Standalone supplementation is virtually never needed. Do not exceed UL of 2,000 µg/day [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Sodium molybdate', 'common', 'Standard supplemental form. Well-absorbed [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Ammonium molybdate', '', 'Used in some supplements and IV formulations [1].'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
Is molybdenum deficiency possible? ▼
From diet alone, no — it has never been documented except in a single TPN case and in genetic MoCD. Molybdenum is present in essentially all plant and animal foods, with legumes being particularly rich [1].
What is MoCD? ▼
Molybdenum cofactor deficiency is a rare (~1:100,000) autosomal recessive disorder that prevents the body from making the molybdenum cofactor needed by sulfite oxidase and xanthine oxidase. It presents with neonatal seizures and is usually fatal. A replacement therapy (cPMP, brand name Nulibry) was FDA-approved in 2021 for MoCD Type A [2] [5].
Should I take a molybdenum supplement? ▼
There is no reason to take standalone molybdenum supplements with a normal diet. The typical US intake (76–109 µg/day) already exceeds the RDA of 45 µg. Multivitamins that include 45–75 µg molybdenum are fine but unnecessary [1].
Can molybdenum help with sulfite sensitivity? ▼
This is theoretically plausible — sulfite oxidase (molybdenum-dependent) detoxifies sulfites. Some alternative practitioners recommend molybdenum for sulfite-sensitive individuals, but controlled clinical evidence is lacking [2].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Essential cofactor for sulfite oxidase — genetic MoCD causes toxic sulfite accumulation leading to neonatal seizures, lens dislocation, and early death [2]. Essential for xanthine oxidase — purine metabolism pathway producing uric acid [1]. Cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP) replacement therapy has been developed for MoCD Type A [5]. HIGH
Moderate
Possible role in sulfite sensitivity: some patients with sulfite intolerance may have marginal molybdenum status, though this is not well-established [2]. Detoxification of environmental sulfites [2]. MODERATE
Insufficient
Cancer prevention: molybdenum has been inversely associated with esophageal cancer in some ecological studies (Linxian, China), but causality is not established [2]. Dental caries prevention: fluoride-independent mechanism proposed but not confirmed [2]. 'Detox' supplement claims: no evidence base [2]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Relative
⚠ High supplemental intake — can interfere with copper status
⚠ Gout/hyperuricemia — theoretical concern via the xanthine-oxidase pathway
🚩 Red flags
● Neonate with intractable seizures + ectopia lentis + low uric acid — MoCD emergency [2]
● Elevated urinary sulfite on dipstick testing in a seizing neonate — urgently screen for MoCD [2]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
No clinically significant drug interactions documented for dietary molybdenum None
Mechanism: Molybdenum at dietary levels does not interact significantly with medications [1].
Effect: No concerns at standard doses [1].
Action: No precautions needed [1].
Supplement synergies
Standard multivitamin inclusion · 45–75 µg/day
Molybdenum is included in many multivitamins at 45–75 µg, providing adequate insurance [1].
Molybdenum is included in many multivitamins at 45–75 µg, providing adequate insurance [1].
7 Regulatory
United States (FDA): Classified as a dietary supplement. UL: 2,000 µg/day. No mandatory fortification [1].
European Union (EFSA): Authorized health claim for sulfur amino acid metabolism [6]. No UL established by EFSA (insufficient data for independent assessment).
Japan (MHLW): Adequate intake: 25–30 µg/day for adults. Upper limit: 600 µg/day.
South Korea (MFDS): Available as dietary supplement ingredient.
8 US supplement products
1,155
on-market products containing Molybdenum (NIH DSLD)
Brands carrying Molybdenum (294)
Click a brand to see its Molybdenum products.
9 Frequently paired with
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Molybdenum — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 07]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/molybdenum/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Molybdenum — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/molybdenum/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 6 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Molybdenum — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/molybdenum/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG