Molybdenum (Glycinate Chelate)

What is Molybdenum?

Molybdenum is a trace essential mineral required in minute quantities, but its physiological impact is huge. It helps key enzymes clear sulfites, toxic aldehydes and xanthine waste so they don’t pile up and overload your cells (1).

Optiventure uses Molybdenum Glycinate Chelate, a chelated form bound to the amino acid glycine, known for its enhanced stability. While research comparing the bioavailability of different molybdenum forms is lacking, chelated forms are known to have superior absorption compared to inorganic forms like oxide or sodium (2).

The 2.5% chelate provides 50 micrograms of elemental molybdenum, aligning with clinical benchmarks for safety and effectiveness, particularly for people with reduced variety in their diet or under physical stress (3).

Why Do Outdoor Adventurers Need Molybdenum?

The liver and kidneys play a constant role in clearing metabolic waste, environmental pollutants, toxins, and food additives, and that workload increases under physical exertion, exposure to dehydrating conditions, or the high-protein/freeze-dried nature of trail diets.

Molybdenum is especially useful for:

• Clear sulfites - Molybdenum powers the enzyme that detoxifies sulfites, which are preservatives found in trail food and wine. This helps prevent headaches, fatigue, and gut issues linked to sulfite sensitivity (4).
• Supports amino acid metabolism - Molybdenum helps process methionine and cysteine, two key amino acids for muscle repair and antioxidant production. That means better recovery and resilience during multi-day hikes (4).
• Breaks down environmental toxins - Molybdenum activates aldehyde oxidase, an enzyme that neutralises harmful aldehydes from smoke, pollution, and plastics (5). 
• Helps control uric acid - Molybdenum regulates enzymes that break down purines from protein-heavy trail food. This helps lower uric acid and reduces the risk of joint pain and gout flare-ups. (12)

Dietary Sources of Molybdenum?

Molybdenum is found in legumes, grains, liver, and nuts – some of which are quite easy to take on the trail. But soil content impacts nutrient density levels, and Australian soils in particular can be molybdenum-deficient (6,9).

Trail diets that are high in processed carbs, preserved meats, and protein powders may increase the need for molybdenum while simultaneously providing an inadequate supply compared to off-trail diets.

What’s the Best Form of Molybdenum For Hikers?

Like other minerals, bioavailability depends heavily on its chemical form. Unfortunately, research is limited in molybdenum absorption, but we know that chelation with glycine enhances transport across the intestinal wall and avoids competitive inhibition by other minerals (13).

• Sodium molybdate: Common, but sodium forms are typically less well tolerated. 
• Molybdenum Glycinate Chelate: Highly bioavailable, better absorbed, less irritating to the gut lining (8)

Key Information About Molybdenum

Deficiency Stats

Molybdenum deficiency has not been observed in otherwise healthy people in research settings, and is extremely unlikely (9). However, those with very restricted diets low in legumes and grains who are pushing their bodies physically over multiple months should be mindful of maintaining adequate intake (10). 

The upper level of intake has been set at 2,000mcg for adults, and toxicity is also unlikely (9). 

Why Optiventure Has 50mcg of Molybdenum

Optiventure includes 50mcg of molybdenum to ensure the recommended daily intake is achieved, while avoiding excess that could interfere with copper metabolism (11). It’s a precision dose with wide-reaching benefits across the body :

• Supports liver enzyme activity involved in detoxifying your system
• Helps manage sulfite load from preserved foods
• Supports amino acid metabolism in the evening

It’s a small and underappreciated mineral that does a lot of good in systems most people aren’t aware are running in the background. 

References

1. Rajagopalan, K. V. (1988). Molybdenum: An essential trace element in human nutrition. Annual Review of Nutrition, 8(1), 401–427. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.nu.08.070188.002153
2. National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Molybdenum - Health Professional Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements.https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Molybdenum-HealthProfessional/
3. Institute of Medicine. (2001). Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
4. Mellis, A.-T., Roeper, J., Misko, A. L., Kohl, J., & Schwarz, G. (2021). Sulfite alters the mitochondrial network in molybdenum cofactor deficiency. Frontiers in Genetics, 11, 594828. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.594828
5. Paragas, E. M., Choughule, K., Jones, J. P., & Barr, J. T. (2021). Enzyme kinetics, pharmacokinetics, and inhibition of aldehyde oxidase. In Methods in Molecular Biology (Vol. 2342, pp. 257–284). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1554-6_10
6. Brennan, R. F. (1990). Molybdenum. In: Piggot, D. (Ed.) Soil Guide: A Handbook for Understanding and Managing Agricultural Soils. Department of Agriculture and Food WA, Bulletin 4343.
7. Turnlund, J. R. (2002). Human whole-body copper and molybdenum metabolism. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 505, 107–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0551-5_13
8. Albion Minerals. (2010). The biochemical and clinical advantages of Albion’s chelated minerals. Technical Monograph Series.
9. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), & New Zealand Ministry of Health (MoH). (2006). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand: Including Recommended Dietary Intakes – Molybdenum. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved fromhttps://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/molybdenum
10. Johnson, J. L., & Duran, M. (2001). Molybdenum cofactor deficiency. Inborn Metabolic Diseases, Springer, 291–296.
11. Milne, D. B. (1998). Trace elements. In: Ziegler, E. E., Filer, L. J. (Eds.) Present Knowledge in Nutrition, 7th ed. ILSI Press.
12. Ribeiro, P. M. G., Fernandes, H. S., Maia, L. B., Sousa, S. F., Moura, J. J. G., & Cerqueira, N. M. F. S. A. (2021). The complete catalytic mechanism of xanthine oxidase: A computational study. Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers, 8, 405–416. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0QI01029D
13. Hou, T. (2022). Bioactive compounds in mineral bioavailability: Activities, structures, and mechanisms [Editorial]. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, Article 1050670. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.1050670