Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes, Solution

Molybdenum is an essential mineral that occurs only in trace amounts in human body composition. Due to the trace amounts needed of the mineral, Molybdenum deficiency does not normally occur in humans eating a normal diet. However, it may occur in patients surviving off of parenteral nutrition (being fed intravenously). Molybdenum is essential in terms of uric acid formation and the degradation of purine. A Molybdenum deficiency can disrupt these essential processes and have adverse health effects.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: General Symptoms

Molybdenum is most highly concentrated in the liver and kidneys. These are organs which are responsible for regulating the concentrations of chemicals in the bloodstream and for removing certain products for excretion. A molybdenum deficiency can disrupt certain enzymes involved in these processes and cause buildup of unnecessary products. Laboratory tests may show an unusually low level of uric acid concentration.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: Early Symptoms

The first symptoms of Molybdenum deficiency are most often related to malfunction of the liver. The symptoms of liver malfunction due to Molybdenum deficiency can include jaundice, nausea, and fatigue.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: Moderate Symptoms

Sometimes moderate Molybdenum deficiency can result in sulfite toxicity. This usually causes the following moderate symptoms of Molybdenum deficiency: headaches, tachypnea, tachycardia, vomiting, nausea and coma.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: Severe Symptoms

There have been recorded cases of children being born with genetic abnormalities that cause them to lack the enzymes which utilize molybdenum even if there is a sufficient supply of molybdenum available. It may be assumed that this condition results in the same effects that a molybdenum deficiency will cause since actual severe molybdenum deficiency is rare in humans.

The symptoms experienced as a result of severe molybdenum deficiency include seizures, lens dislocation, retardation and opisthotonus.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: Causes

The cause of Molybdenum deficiency is almost always that a patient living on parenteral nutrition has had their intravenous formula incorrectly formulated so that it is lacking a sufficient amount of molybdenum. This is only seen in people who are long term parenteral nutrition patients.

Molybdenum deficiency can also be caused by certain genetic disorders.

Molybdenum Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes and Solution: Solution

The most obvious solution to molybdenum deficiency is to simply eat molybdenum rich foods. Molybdenum rich foods include dark leafy vegetables, legumes, cereals, whole grains, liver and milk.

Sources: http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch005/ch005h.html

http://www.healthylivinganswers.com/vitamins/molybdenum-mineral.html

http://www.vitamins-supplements.org/dietary-minerals/molybdenum.php