Molybdenum is a trace mineral found in all tissues of the body, particularly in the bones, teeth, kidney and the liver. Molybdenum is essential in animal and human nutrition. It is found in several tissues of the human body and is required for the activity of some enzymes that are involved in catabolism, including the catabolism of purines and the sulfur amino acids. Thus, molybdenum-dependent enzymes are not only required for the health of the Earth's people, but for the health of its ecosystems as well.

Molybdenum is a trace mineral found in all tissues of the body, particularly in the bones, teeth, kidney, and liver. It is important because it helps the body make the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which helps the body use its iron reserves, and burning of fat. Without molybdenum, your body cannot grow and develop properly.

The Total Diet Study, an annual survey of the mineral content of representative diets of Americans, indicates that the dietary intake of molybdenum averages 76 mcg/day for women and 109 mcg/day for men. Thus, usual molybdenum intakes are well above the RDA for molybdenum. Legumes, such as beans, lentils, and peas, are the richest sources of molybdenum. Grain products and nuts are considered good sources, while animal products, fruits, and many vegetables are generally low in molybdenum. Because the molybdenum content of plants depends on the soil molybdenum content and environmental conditions, the molybdenum content of foods can vary considerably.

Molybdenum in nutritional supplements is generally in the form of sodium molybdate or ammonium molybdate. The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine found little evidence that molybdenum excess was associated with adverse health outcomes in generally healthy people.