Plasma molybdenum reflects dietary molybdenum intake

Area of Science:

• Human nutrition
• Trace element metabolism

Background:

• The relationship between plasma molybdenum (Mo) and dietary intake in humans remains understudied.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for assessing nutritional status and potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of varying dietary molybdenum intakes on plasma molybdenum concentrations in humans.
• To develop and validate a method for accurately measuring plasma molybdenum.

Main Methods:

• Developed an isotope dilution method using ICP-MS to quantify molybdenum in small plasma volumes (0.5 mL).
• Conducted a controlled study with young men consuming controlled diets ranging from very low (22 microg/day) to high (1490 microg/day) molybdenum levels.
• Utilized stable isotopes ((97)Mo and (100)Mo) to track molybdenum clearance and incorporation.

Main Results:

• Plasma molybdenum decreased significantly within 24 days on a low molybdenum diet (22 microg/day), from 8.2 to 5.1 nmol/L.
• Plasma molybdenum levels responded rapidly to dietary changes, increasing from 5.4 to 16.5 nmol/L when intake shifted from low to high.
• A dose-dependent relationship was observed, with plasma molybdenum increasing from 4.2 to 43.9 nmol/L across a range of dietary intakes.

Conclusions:

• Plasma molybdenum levels in humans are sensitive indicators of dietary molybdenum intake.
• Changes in plasma molybdenum concentrations can be observed within approximately 14 days of altered dietary intake.
• Plasma molybdenum measurement is a viable tool for assessing both low and high dietary molybdenum exposure in humans.