In the U.S.—

• Nutritional supplement, mineral

The body needs molybdenum (moh-LIB-den-um) for normal growth and health. For patients who are unable to get enough molybdenum in their regular diet or who have a need for more molybdenum, molybdenum supplements may be necessary. They are generally taken by mouth in multivitamin/mineral products but some patients may have to receive them by injection. Molybdenum is part of certain enzymes that are important for several body functions.

A deficiency of molybdenum is rare. However, if the body does not get enough molybdenum, certain enzymes needed by the body are affected. This may lead to a build up of unwanted substances in some people.

Injectable molybdenum is administered only by or under the supervision of your health care professional. Molybdenum is available in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Molybdenum is available orally as part of a multivitamin/mineral combination.

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

The daily amount of molybdenum needed is defined in several different ways.

For U.S.—
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
• Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada—
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.

Because a lack of molybdenum is rare, there is no RDA or RNI for it. The following daily intakes are thought to be plenty for most individuals:

• Infants and children—
  • Birth to 3 years of age: 15 to 50 micrograms (mcg).
  • 4 to 6 years of age: 30 to 75 mcg.
  • 7 to 10 years of age: 50 to 150 mcg.
• Adolescents and adults—75 to 250 mcg.

If you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For molybdenum, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your health care professional if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to molybdenum. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—It is especially important that you are receiving enough vitamins and minerals when you become pregnant and that you continue to receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals throughout your pregnancy. The healthy growth and development of the fetus depend on a steady supply of nutrients from the mother. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother and/or fetus and should be avoided.

Breast-feeding—It is important that you receive the right amounts of vitamins and minerals so that your baby will also get the vitamins and minerals needed to grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a dietary supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and should be avoided.

Children—Problems in children have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Older adults—Problems in older adults have not been reported with intake of normal daily recommended amounts.

Other medicines—Medicines or other dietary supplements

Although certain medicines or dietary supplements should not be used together at all, in other cases they may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your health care professional may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other dietary supplement or any prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

• Copper deficiency—Molybdenum may make this condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—These conditions may cause higher blood levels of molybdenum, which may increase the chance of unwanted effects

Molybdenum is available orally only as part of a multivitamin/mineral product.

Dosing—

The amount of molybdenum needed to meet normal daily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals. The following information includes only the average amounts of molybdenum.

• For oral dosage form (as part of a multivitamin/mineral supplement):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
    • Adults and teenagers—75 to 250 micrograms (mcg) per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age—50 to 150 mcg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age—30 to 75 mcg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age—15 to 150 mcg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.

Missed dose—

If you miss taking your multivitamin containing molybdenum for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in molybdenum. However, if your health care professional has recommended that you take molybdenum, try to remember to take it as directed every day.

Storage—

To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Keep the dietary supplement from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplements or those no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.

Large amounts of molybdenum may cause your body to lose copper. Your health care professional may recommend that you take a copper supplement while on molybdenum therapy.

Along with its needed effects, a dietary supplement may cause some unwanted effects. Although oral molybdenum supplements have not been reported to cause any side effects, check with your health care professional immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Symptoms of overdose
  • Joint pain;  side, lower back, or stomach pain;  swelling of feet or lower legs 
  
  

  Reported rarely in individuals consuming foods grown in soil containing a high content of molybdenum.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some individuals. If you notice any other effects, check with your health care professional.