Molybdenum, (Mo), is an essential trace mineral required for the proper function of certain enzyme-dependent procedures including that of sulphite oxidase, an enzymatic catalyst responsiable for the break down of sulphites.

Sulphites are present in all kind of protein containing food and also widely used as preservatives in a range of food items and drugs. If your body is not capable of breaking down sulphites, cytotoxic build-up occurs, and allergic reaction including asthma attacks could set in.

Molybdenum is a part of aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase – both of which are implicated in the production of proteins and genetic material. Xanthine oxidase assists the body in the convertion, by oxidation, of pyrimidines and purines in to uric acid.

This trace element also assists in the elimination of nitrosamines from the body, which have a strong association with some types of cancer, prevent cavities and it may assist to prevent anemia. It is required for normal cell function and nitrogen metabolic process. While molybdenum is an essential mineral, no inadequacies have been ever reported in humans.

Molybdenum and Dietary Allowance

No recommended dietary allowance (RDA) has been laid down for molybdenum. The approximated range suggested by the Food and Nutrition Board as safe and adequate is 75-250 mcg per day for adults.

Health Risks from Molybdenum

Molybdenum has been reported to have caused psychosis in a patient when it was taken in 300 to 800 mcg per day for 18 days. This account is as yet unsubstantiated by any other human or animal research.

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Zinc, (Zn), is an essential trace mineral found in the body in larger amounts than any other trace mineral, 1.8 grams, except iron, 5 grams. It has been recognized as essential to humans in 1960s when deficiency cases were first recognized. The mineral is absorbed throughout the small intestine mostly in the jejunum and absorption is influenced by the type of foods ingested. Absorption is more likely to be high if animal proteins are consumed, when body needs are higher and when dietary intake is low.

When absorption take place into intestinal cells a protein, metallothionein, binds zinc in similar way that ferritin binds iron and partly regulates its absorption. The largest stores of this trace mineral in the body are found in the pancreas, liver, voluntary muscles, and bones. It is also found in the eyes, skin, prostate gland, hair nails, and white blood cells. However, the absorbed amounts of the mineral in the body are classified as functional zinc and amounts held in storage are very small.

Zinc intakes are generally low worldwide. While insufficient dietary intake may be the cause of poor zinc status in some cases the most likely causative factor in depleted zinc status are inhibitors of its absorption. A high intake of phytic acid found in grains and high intake of calcium both decease absorption of this mineral. Some milk proteins have been shown to inhibit its absorption. Finally zinc competes with copper and iron in the body for absorption.

Zinc is present in every cell in the body and has many and diverse biological functions. More than 100 require zinc for optimal activity. The mineral supports many body functions such as: Protein metabolism, immune function, general growth, wound healing and burns, synthesis and function of nucleic acid, development of sexual organs, insulin function cell membranes structure and function and behavioral development in infants.
Severe deficiency is not common but marginal deficiency of zinc is and it is difficult to diagnose.

The signs and symptoms of deficiency are nonspecific and can include increased fatigue, decreased alertness, and inadequate growth, declined immune function, acne, delayed wound healing, decreased production of lymphocytes and decreased B and T lymphocyte responses. A high intake of this mineral interferes with copper and iron metabolism and increases the need for vitamin A intake.

The RDA for zinc is 11 mg/day for men and 8 mg/day for women and the upper level is 40 mg/day. In general protein rich diets are rich in zinc also. Foods with high content are oysters shrimp, beef, turkey, legumes. Nuts, whole grains, wheat germ and pumpkin seeds can provide substantial amounts. While food sources for zinc are the preferred sources, zinc supplements shown to be effective to maintain zinc status in those at risk of deficiency.

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Magnesium, (Mg), is an essential mineral that accounts only for 0.05 percent of the body’s total weight. Approximately 70 percent of the mineral is located in the bones and the rest in soft tissues such as muscles and in body fluids. Magnesium, like calcium is a cation (divalent). It is heavily involved in many metabolic processes and it is widely distributed in foods especially green leafy vegetables. It’s an essential element of chlorophyll

Approximately 50 percent of the magnesium from dietary sources is absorbed in the small intestine through passive and active absorption. The rate of absorption is influenced by the parathyroid hormones and the amount of calcium, phosphate and lactose in the body. High magnesium intake reduces the rate of absorption and low intake increases the rate. Aldosterone a hormone produced by the kidneys regulates the rate of magnesium loss through kidneys. Diuretics and alcohol increase magnesium loss in the urine.

Magnesium plays an extensive and vital role in many biological and physiological processes. It is responsible for more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body and its presence is required in many energy-yielding compounds in cells, ATP. It also contributes to the DNA and RNA synthesis, in bone structure by abiding calcium and potassium metabolism, nerve and heart function, insulin release from pancreas, decreasing blood pressure and prevention with heart rhythm abnormalities.

Magnesium also helps to promote the absorption of other minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, potassium and sodium and the utilization of the B-complex vitamins and C and E. The conversion of blood sugar in to energy it needs sufficient amounts of magnesium and for the regulation of body temperature. High cholesterol levels and high intake of proteins increases the need for this mineral. Magnesium also helps to prevent accumulation of calcium and phosphorus deposits in the urinary tract by keeping them soluble.

Approximately 50 percent of dietary magnesium comes from green leafy and other vegetables, fruit and grains and 30 percent from milk and its products, eggs and chocolate. The Recommended Daily Allowance is 310 mg/ day for adult women and 400 mg/day for men. Magnesium deficiency develops very slowly. The need of magnesium increases slightly with some individuals over the age of 30.

Toxicity it is not a problem in healthy people with a typical diet. However, large amounts can lead to diarrhea and toxicity can occur from not food source magnesium in older individuals, in the event of kidney failure or if kidney functions is compromised.

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Mineral nutrients are non-carbon nutrients or inorganic. These nutrients are present either as cations ( positively charged) or anions (negatively charged). Cations are derivable from metallic elements, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum (molybdate), zinc, sodium and selenium (selenate).

Nonmetal elements give Anions: chlorine ( chloride), iodine ( iodide) sulfur (sulfate) phosphorus ( phosphate) and fluorine ( fluoride). Combination of both cations and anions give salts including sodium chloride, sodium iodide and calcium phosphate.

The body needs many different minerals, more than 40, for its function . One mineral category is required in greater quantities and is classed as macro-minerals.

Micro-minerals or Trace minerals is a second category of minerals required in much lower amounts. The daily requirements could vary from that of some micrograms (mcgs), to that of some milligrams (mgs).

A third categorization is called micro trace or ultra trace minerals. The amount of this category of mineral nutrients required is not well known but they are usually found in tiny amounts of just parts per million.

The double Noble Prize winner, late Dr. Linus Pauling, once said. “You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral nutrient .” deficiency. Virtually everyone would think of amino acids, vitamins, and essential fatty acids before giving any thought at all to the importance of minerals.

Minerals take on almost countless roles inside the human body. Apart from being participants of just about every enzymatic reaction, they are also needed for the make of and as a component of cell membranes, connective tissue such as bones, cartilage, ligaments, sinews muscles, soft tissues including venous blood vessels, arterial blood vessels, and also brain tissue.

The trouble is that a lot of us might be lacking in many mineral nutrients attributed to the very harsh reality that these important nutrients are found in only small amounts in foods. We exist in a technological period of time able to fiddle with the genetically inherited codes of crops we grow and along the way we produced immense size of strawberries that bear little or no taste of strawberries and broccoli that holds half the amount of magnesium and calcium of its earlier cousins.

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Although a daily multi-vitamin pill cannot substitute available nutrients in a balanced diet, does it give you partial protection when you drift from that “perfect” diet? In a ideal world you should get all the vitamins and minerals you need from your food, but, for the great majority of us this is not exactly the case.

According to JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association, research workers have been reporting as far back as in 2000 and advocate multivitamins as an affordable insurance against suboptimal nutrient ingestion.

Multi-vitamins could have short and long term benefits. In the short term you might anticipate to have enhanced levels of energy, better immunity to infection and coping better with stress. On the long term basis, benefits include better cardiovascular, bone, optic and immune health. Since we all live in the frantic 21st century there are a lot of reasons for potentially needing multivitamins.

Outcomes of a study by the Lewin group in 2003, US documented that daily use of multi-vitamins by older adults could result to more than $1.5 billion savings in Medicare across five years. The potential five year savings represented in part savings from reduced risk of hardening of the arteries, improved resistance to infection and less hospital stays.

The study found that daily use of multi-vitamins was a potentially effective way to improve older adults health especially heart and immune health.

A list of GOOD reasons why you may need multivitamin Supplements.

Poor Digestion: A compromised digestive system could limit the body’s uptake of vitamins from food.

Excess Alcohol Intake: Regular and heavy use of alcohol step-ups the need of B-group vitamins.

Smoking: Tobacco smoking increases the demand for vitamin C by 30% than that of a non-smoker.

Use of Laxatives: Use of laxatives speeds intestinal transit time leading in poor assimilation of vitamins and minerals.

Use of Antibiotics: while useful in fighting infections they as well kill friendly bacterial in the gut that makes some of B Vitamins.

Fad Diets: Even the low-fat diets, if aimed to extremes could be low in vitamins A, D and E. Vegetarians unless they design skilfully their diet could become vitamin B12 deficient which leads to anemia.

Cooking: Cooking especially overcooking and reheating food can destroy heat-susceptible vitamins such as the B-group, vitamin E and vitamin C. Boiling vegetables strips the water soluble vitamins such as B-group and vitamin C. Vitamin B6 could be damaged by irradiation from use of microwaves.

Food Storage: Most common sources of vitamin E such as cereals and oils are present days highly refined to increase storage life but this call for the removal of vitamin E. Also freezing food containing vitamin E could significantly reduce levels once the food gets defrosted.

Daily Stress: All three physical, emotional and chemical stressors could increase the demand for vitamins B2, B5, B6, C, and E

Teenager Years: fast growth especially among girls puts high demands on vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.

Pregnancy: It creates greater than average demands for nutrients such as B-group vitamins, especially folic acid, vitamins A, D, E and minerals calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.

Use of Oral Contraceptives: They could step-down the assimilation of folic acid and increase the demand for vitamin B complex especially B6, vitamin C and zinc.

Lack of Sunlight: Shift workers, disable individuals, the aged and those whose exposure to sunshine is lowest could suffer from inadequate amounts of vitamin D.

Athletes: Professional athletes go through substantial stress. The demand, in particular for B-group vitamins, vitamin C and iron, increases substantially.

Since Multivitamins could have short and long term benefits, each of the 13 essential vitamins providing a crucial function, first ensure that you receive the proper nutrition and additionally take a multivitamin for the numerous important reasons mentioned above.

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