Research on the Mineral Molybdenum
The following research abstracts
are presented to reflect the findings of possible benefits from
minerals as a dietary supplement and nutritional supplement.
You will find more on the ionic
molybdenum page.
GENERAL MOLYBDENUM RESEARCH
Anon. (1983) Int Clin Nut
Rev, 3(1), 45.
Molybdenum deficiency may be
the single greatest factor in the causation of oesophageal cancer
in Chinese men. Oesphageal cancer specimens taken from men living
in high risk areas have shown a significant reduction in molybdenum
levels compared to normal oesophageal specimens, and appears
to be due to the low molybdenum (and zinc,)
content of cereal grains and drinking water found in high risk
areas.
The anti-neoplastic properties of molybdenum include inhibition
of the growth of Ehrlich ascites tumours in mice and inhibition
of nitrosamine induced stomach cancer of mice. Levels of nitrosamines
and their precursors were found to be high in staple foods collected
from high risk areas of China. Molybdenum is essential to a
number of oxidation-reduction enzymes of bacteria and algae
which convert the nitrogen components in the soil to ammonia
and when plants are high in molybdenum they
contain less nitrates and nitrites.
Seifter, E., Weinzweig, S., &
Opler, L. (1986) Am J Clin Nutr, 46, 22.
The possible role of molybdenum
in the prevention of tumor formation was reviewed by Dr. E.
Seifter and colleagues at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The research on molybdenum is limited,
but evidence shows that this trace mineral might be important
in the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds. When animals are
fed plants that have been grown on ammonia-rich soil or urea-rich
soil, both nitrogenous compounds, they become molybdenum
deficient. In addition, plants that have converted ammonia from
fertilizers into nitrites and have stored the nitrites in their
tissues are mutagenic and carcinogenic to animals who eat them.
The authors conclude that the potential link between molybdenum
and tumorigenesis justifies further research on the therapeutic
and preventive effects of molybdenum
supplementation in cancer.
