Metals, toxins and medication
Molybdeen
Molybdenum in blood says little; molybdenum in urine is the better measure of intake or exposure.
Everything about this testWhat it measures
The analysis measures how much molybdenum is in your blood. Molybdenum is a trace element needed for enzymes that build up and break down proteins. It is found in almost all food, especially in whole grain products, legumes and nuts. The body absorbs molybdenum well and excretes the excess in the urine, so only a little remains in the blood.
- Exposure to molybdenum at work
- A high intake through supplements
High
A raised value may fit a high intake through supplements or exposure at work, for example in the steel industry. The value can also be higher with liver disease. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), too much molybdenum can cause extra loss of copper through the urine; this hardly ever happens through ordinary food.
Low
A low value says little. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), a molybdenum deficiency has never been found in humans, so a low result does not call for supplementation.
If your result is abnormal
With a raised result, the GP looks at supplements, work and liver function, and may have copper measured in blood, because a lot of molybdenum can increase copper loss.
Reliability
Molybdenum in blood is a weak measure; molybdenum in urine says more about intake and exposure. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), there are too few data to set a nutritional standard for molybdenum. In people without known exposure and without supplements, a single value says little.
Limitations
- Supplements containing molybdenum raise the value.
- Liver disease can raise the value without more molybdenum having been taken in.
- There are no agreed cutoff values; the limit between normal and raised comes from the laboratory itself.
How common is this
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), as far as is known, no deficiency or excess of molybdenum occurs in the Netherlands. A deficiency has never been found in humans.
Who is this useful for
Useful with known exposure to molybdenum at work or with long-term use of high-dose supplements, although molybdenum in urine usually says more. In people without symptoms and without known exposure, the measurement adds nothing.
Downsides and risks
- An abnormal value without symptoms easily leads to worry and to unnecessary follow-up testing.
Sources
Always discuss an abnormal result with your GP. If a result is strongly abnormal, we try to reach you as soon as possible. Read your result yourself as well and contact your GP if in doubt. A test does not make a diagnosis. Read more about risks and results