Molybdenum deficiency
Symptoms, at-risk groups, and clinical context for molybdenum deficiency. Sourced from NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and StatPearls.
Molybdenum deficiency from diet has essentially never been documented in healthy people — only one case has ever been reported (a man on long-term TPN). Molybdenum is abundant in legumes, whole grains, and leafy vegetables, and human requirements are very low (45 µg/day). The much more serious clinical entity is molybdenum cofactor deficiency — a rare inherited metabolic disorder, NOT a dietary issue.
Common symptoms
- Documented dietary molybdenum deficiency in humans is essentially nonexistent (1 historical case)
- In that single TPN case: tachycardia, headache, night blindness, mental disturbances, coma in late stages
- Inherited molybdenum cofactor deficiency (a separate genetic condition): seizures, severe neurological damage, early infant death — this is NOT dietary
At-risk groups
- Routine molybdenum supplementation is unnecessary for healthy people
- Only documented at-risk group: people on long-term parenteral nutrition without molybdenum (rare)
- Note: 'molybdenum cofactor deficiency' is an inherited enzyme deficiency, not addressable by dietary molybdenum
When to see a doctor: Symptoms attributed to molybdenum deficiency in the general population almost certainly have a different cause. Standalone molybdenum supplementation is rarely necessary. If you encounter products marketing molybdenum for sulfite sensitivity, copper detox, or general wellness, the evidence base is weak. Stay within the UL of 2,000 µg/day to avoid toxicity (gout-like symptoms, joint pain).
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Related deficiencies
Nutrients with overlapping symptoms — useful when investigating an unclear clinical picture.