US IOM RDA: 45 mcg/day adults. EFSA NDA AI: 65 mcg/day adults. EFSA NRV (labelling): 50 mcg. Common supplemental doses: 45-150 mcg/day. US IOM Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): 2000 mcg/day adults. EFSA UL: 600 mcg/day adults. Most adults obtain adequate molybdenum from dietary sources (legumes, grains, organ meats); supplementation rarely needed in healthy individuals.
Safety notes
Molybdenum is generally well-tolerated at typical intakes. Chronic high intakes (10-15 mg/day in cattle-grazing studies) have been associated with hyperuricemia and gout-like symptoms via xanthine oxidase amplification, and with copper deficiency (molybdenum forms thiomolybdate complexes with copper reducing absorption). No human RCT-grade toxicity data available; the EFSA UL of 600 mcg/day reflects extrapolation from animal studies. Caution in patients with gout or hyperuricemia. Drug interactions: very high-dose ammonium tetrathiomolybdate is used therapeutically (off-label) as a copper-chelating agent in Wilson disease and certain cancers — not relevant to dietary supplement doses but illustrative of the Mo-Cu antagonism. Pregnancy/lactation: stay within AI; do not exceed UL.
Cross-market regulatory status
🇺🇸 FDA
United States (FDA): NO 21 CFR Part 101 Subpart E SSA health claim exists for molybdenum. Molybdenum is recognized as an essential trace mineral with an established RDA / DRI by the Institute of Medicine. Structure/function statements may be made under DSHEA (21 USC 343(r)(6)) for dietary supplements (with the standard FDA disclaimer that statements have not been evaluated by FDA and the product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.). No FDA Qualified Health Claim (QHC) linking molybdenum intake to a disease/health condition has been issued.
🇪🇺 EFSA
European Union (EFSA / Reg 432/2012): ONE authorized Article 13(1) function health claim for molybdenum in the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (CELEX:32012R0432, entry ID 313). EFSA NDA Panel underlying opinion: EFSA Journal 2010;8(10):1745. Use of the claim requires the food/supplement to be at least a source of molybdenum per the SOURCE OF reference in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (>=15% NRV per 100 g/100 mL or per portion; NRV = 50 mcg per Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 Annex XIII). A second EFSA-evaluated function (ID 341, protection of DNA / proteins / lipids from oxidative damage) received a non-favourable opinion and is NOT authorised. British spelling "sulphur" preserved as in the official Annex.
🇧🇷 ANVISA
Brasil (ANVISA): Molibdênio é reconhecido como mineral essencial com valores de referência para uso em suplementos alimentares conforme Instrução Normativa IN nº 28/2018 (Anexo III - limites de composição). Para esta entrada nesta sessão de auditoria, não foi possível extrair character-for-character qualquer alegação funcional autorizada no formato "O molibdênio auxilia ..." do PDF oficial do BVSMS. Por guardrail de anti-alucinação, authorized_claims ANVISA permanece vazio com draft_needs_verification=true; até confirmação manual via leitura do PDF oficial, apenas declaração de nutriente ("fonte de molibdênio" sujeito ao mínimo do Anexo III) pode ser utilizada — nenhuma alegação funcional deve ser escrita a partir de memória.
Clinical overview of molybdenum essentiality and human dietary requirements
Authorized claims · verbatim (1)
Direct quotes from each jurisdiction's framework · never paraphrased · with framework reference and conditions of use.
🇪🇺 EFSA · 1 claim
Reg 432/2012
Molybdenum contributes to normal sulphur amino acid metabolism
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of molybdenum as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Common use cases
Daily nutritional adequacy support
Cofactor in multinutrient longevity / antioxidant blends
Specific use only in rare molybdenum cofactor deficiency (clinically managed)
