Molybdenum content of Canadian and US infant formulas

Molybdenum is an essential trace nutrient in the human diet. Our purpose was to provide a comprehensive analysis of Mo content of various types of powdered infant formulas across Canada and the USA. All infant formulas, available on the day of sampling, were purchased from random supermarkets in Grand Forks, ND, USA; San Diego, CA, USA; Washington, DC, USA; and Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Reference powdered milk, human milk (HM), and formula samples were weighed and acid-digested prior to analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mo content in all formulas ranged from 15.4 to 80.3 μg/L (mean±SE, 37.7±1.7 μg/L). HM Mo concentration ranged from 1.5 to 9.5 μg/L (5.09±0.81 μg/L). Formulas intended for full-term or for premature infants feeding contained, on average, more Mo than HM. Formulas intended for infants with special needs contained similar mean Mo levels to HM. No significant differences were detected between mean Mo values of formulas of a same type purchased from different brands and/or at different locations. High Mo intake may pose health risks, despite lower bioavailability of Mo from formula compared with HM.