The biological and toxicological importance of molybdenum in the environment and in the nutrition of plants, animals and man. Part 2: Molybdenum in animals and man.

Molluscs and insects accumulate between 200 and 1050 microg Mo/kg of dry matter. Mice and vole species incorporate 350-650 microg Mo/kg, whereas shrews store 1500-2500 microg Mo/kg, i.e. insectivores have significantly higher molybdenum contents than rodents. The amounts of molybdenum accumulated by wild and domestic mammals are highest in the liver and kidneys, and lowest in muscle tissue and hair. The molybdenum status of mammals is reflected by all tissues tested except the heart. The best indicators of molybdenum deficiency and intoxication are liver, kidneys, blood and milk. The intrauterine storage of molybdenum in mammals is low. The milk delivers sufficient molybdenum amounts to the newborns. In man, the transfer of molybdenum follows the same rules as those found in mammals.