Molybdenum deficiency
Molybdenum
Specialty	Endocrinology

Molybdenum deficiency refers to the clinical consequences of inadequate intake ofmolybdenum in thediet.

Because the amount of molybdenum required is very small, and the element is plentiful, molybdenumdeficiency has never been observed in healthy people.^[1][2][3] However, it has been seen once, in 1981, in an exceptional case of a patient receiving long-termparenteral nutrition that lacked molybdenum.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} This should not be confused with themolybdenum cofactor deficiency, which is a genetic inability to metabolize molybdenum and is universally fatal within the first days of the infant's life.^[6]

Descriptions of human molybdenum deficiency are few. A patient receiving prolongedparenteral nutrition acquired asyndrome described as ‘acquired molybdenum deficiency.’ This syndrome, exacerbated bymethionine administration, was characterized by high blood methionine, low blooduric acid, and low urinaryuric acid andsulfate concentrations. The patient sufferedmental disturbances that progressed to acoma.^[7]Pathological changes occurring in individuals with agenetic disease that results in asulfite oxidase (amolybdoenzyme) deficiency include increased plasma and urine sulfite, sulfate,thiosulfate, S-sulfocysteine andtaurine;seizures andbrain atrophy/lesions; dislocated lenses; and death at an early age.

A molydenum deficiency can cause in some humans neural degradation resulting in some symptoms similar toALS^[8]

300 mcgammonium molybdate per day can bring about recovery of acquired molybdenum deficiency.^[9]

• Molybdenum cofactor deficiency

• Mineral deficiencies
• Molybdenum

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