Monograph: |
Molybdenum
Colourless or slightly green or yellow crystals. Soluble in wa-
ter. practically insoluble in alcohol. Store in airtight
containers.
Sodium Molybdate
Adverse Effects
Very high intakes of molybdenum, and associated increase
in xanthine oxidase activity, may result in hyperuricaemia
and possibly gout. Molybdenum intoxication may impair the
utilisation of copper.
Uses and Administration
Molybdenum is an essential trace element and small amounts
in the form of ammonium molybdate or sodium molybdate
are sometimes added to solutions for total parenteral nutri
tion. A suggested dose is about 20 to 120 mcg (0.2 to 1.2 mcmol
elemental molybdenum daily.
Ammonium molybdate is used in veterinary medicine to treat
copper poisoning in sheep.
Human requirements. In the United Kingdom neither a
reference nutrient intake (RNI) nor an estimated average re
quirement (EAR) has been set for molybdenum
although a safe intake was believed to be between 50 and
400 mcg (0.5 and 4 mcmol) daily for adults. Similarly, in the
United States a recommended dietary allowance has not been
published but a safe and adequate range was considered to be
75 to 250 mcg daily for adults. WHO make the suggestion that
the adult basal requirement for molybdenum could be about
25 mcg daily, corresponding to approximately 0.4 mcg per kg
body-weight.
Foods contributing to dietary molybdenum include milk,
beans, breads, and cereals: however, extreme regional varia-
tions occur in molybdenum contents of food crops due to soil
differences.
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