The effect of molybdenum levels in sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) on uric acid and copper excretion in man

Abstract

1. The effect of various dietary levels of molybdenum on uric acid and copper excretion was studied in experiments with four adult men given diets based on two sorghum varieties (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) differing widely in Mo content. 2. With a Mo intake of 160, 540 or 1540 µg/d the urinary excretion of uric acid was unaltered. 3. The excretion of Cu in urine increased with increasing Mo intake. 4. Cu-balance studied with high- and low-Mo diets showed that with a high-Mo diet urinary Cu excretion increased but faecal Cu was unaffected. This indicates that dietary Mo had no effect on Cu absorption. 5. The high serum concentration of Cu with diets high in Mo indicates that Mo either mobilizes tissue Cu or inhibits Cu uptake, or both.