Ultratrace Minerals : Molybdenum

Mo functions as a cofactor for a small number of mammalian oxidases (Fig.1). Legumes are important dietary sources. No dietary deficiency syndromes are known. Mo has low toxicity in humans (UL = 2 mg/day in adults).

Figure 1: Enzymes (oxidases) that require molybdenum (Mo).

Cobalt (Co), an ultratrace mineral, is a component of vitamin B12 (cobalamin, see p. 379), which is required as methylcobalamin in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine  or adenosylcobalamin in the isomerization of methylmalonyl coenzyme A (CoA) to succinyl CoA . No Recommended Dietary Allowance or Daily Reference Intake has been established for Co.