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Molybdenum is essential

Molybdenum is a naturally occurring element found all around us. It is also found in low concentrations in plants, animals, and within the human body. In common with a handful of other elements - including copper, iron and zinc - molybdenum is also essential, meaning that life cannot be sustained without it.

Click on the arrows in the sliding panel below for more information on the essentiality of molybdenum and how it supports life on earth in a number of ways. Clicking on the ‘+’ expands the text and shows a list of supporting references.

Molybdenum is one of the elements in the periodic table known to be essential for life.

An element is considered essential when it is required for growth and function by living ...

Molybdenum was fundamental to the evolution of life on earth.

During evolution of life on earth, molybdenum played a crucial role in converting inorganic ...

Molybdenum occurs naturally in water, soil and in our bodies.

Molybdenum is found in combination with sulfur in the mineral molybdenite and with oxygen as ...

Molybdenum is essential for human life - we could not function without it.

In humans, molybdenum is an essential constituent of several enzymes which play a vital role in ...

Molybdenum plays a critical role in humans, helping to digest food, produce energy and remove waste products from the body.

The ability of the human body to eliminate waste is fundamental to our physical well-being. ...

Molybdenum is found naturally in many foods and in water; an adequate supply is obtained from a normal diet.

Molybdenum must be ingested from food or water. Good sources of molybdenum include lentils, ...

Molybdenum can be found in many over the counter dietary supplements.

As an essential trace element, molybdenum is commonly found in over the counter dietary ...

An excessive molybdenum intake is highly unlikely through normal everyday living.

Either a lack or excess of essential elements can be deleterious to health. If there is too ...

Molybdenum does not normally accumulate in the human body.

In normal dietary intake, molybdenum does not accumulate in the human body as excess is ...

Molybdenum deficiency is extremely rare but can occur in newborn infants with a genetic disorder, often with fatal outcomes.

Molybdenum deficiency is not known to occur in healthy people. A very small number of babies are ...

Molybdenum is not found in harmful concentrations in consumer products used in everyday life.

Molybdenum is no different from other elements in being harmful at excessive concentrations. The ...

Molybdenum can be used to treat Wilson’s disease, an inherited genetic disorder.

Tetrathiomolybdate – a molybdenum compound – is used to control copper levels in the ...

Molybdenum shows some promise in the experimental treatment of cancer.

Some molybdenum compounds have been trialed in patients with advanced cancers, with the aim of ...

Molybdenum is an essential micronutrient for plant growth.

Molybdenum is essential in enzymes which enable plants to utilize nitrogen from the air and from ...

Correcting molybdenum deficiency in soils can boost agricultural output.

In Australia, molybdenum deficiency has been identified as the second most common micronutrient ...

In animals, as in humans, molybdenum is used to help rid the body of waste products from digesting food, as well as playing a part in producing cellular energy.

In animals, as in humans, molybdenum is needed in enzymes which manage chemical reactions of ...