Mr. Generic: After trying some molybdenum, something miraculous has happened. My brain fog is totally gone!
Polly: That is great that it helped you so much. Once in a while, we get someone at the forum for whom molybdenum has been unusually helpful. In my case, the molybdenum made me feel a little better, but it didn’t really help much with the brain fog. Molybdenum is needed to remove acetylaldehyde, a yeast toxin that is suspected of contributing to the brain fog. Perhaps this is why it helped you.
Kathleen: I also found molybdenum helpful. In fact, the MSM supplement I take has 25 mcg molybdenum per 500 mg MSM (plus 100mg Vitamin C).
Polly: Kathleen, that is pretty strange that the MSM sulfur had molybdenum packaged in with it. Was it supposed to be especially for people with yeast? Or was it just because excess sulfur can reduce molybdenum levels?
Kathleen: No, I don’t think it is made especially for people with yeast. It is called Fundamental Sulfur by Amni. Website http://www.amni.com and http://www.douglaslabs.com Phone: (888) 368-4522. This is from the website: AMNI uses licensed, patented MSM as a source of bioavailable sulfur in the following products: Fundamental Sulfur: Provides 500 mg of MSM per tablet together with 100 mg of ascorbic acid and 25 mcg of molybdenum for synergistic benefit. Fundamental Sulfur ll: Contains 500 mg of MSM per tablet plus 25 mcg of molybdenum to assist sulfur metabolism. It does not contain vitamin C.
Polly: There is a nice discussion of molybdenum in the book Mineral and Trace Element Analysis, Laboratory and Clinical Application by E. Blaurock-Busch, PhD and Veronica Griffin, PhD. (The book is quite informative, and available through a company that does mineral analysis — Trace Minerals International. http://www.tracemin.com (800) 437-1404.) Here are a few notes of mine taken from their discussion on molybdenum. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for molybdenum is 150 mcg to 500 mcg per day. Molybdenum is just like so many other minerals. Too much or too little is not good. Too much can cause gout, and oddly enough, too little can cause gout too. Supplemental molybdenum may help reduce sulfite sensitivity. Excessive molybdenum can cause deposits in soft tissues and joints, and trigger arthritic symptoms. Excessive molybdenum can also cause copper deficiency and hence anemia, diarrhea, and growth depression. Good sources of molybdenum are liver, kidney, wheat germ, leafy vegetables, and legumes. Molybdenum interacts with sulfur and copper.
Mrs. Generic: I have a book called Optimal Wellness, by Ralph Golan MD. In it he suggests taking 500 micrograms (mcg) of molybdenum twice a day for sulfite sensitivity. BUT TO TAKE 2-4 MILLIGRAMS A DAY OF COPPER BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME. Anyone know where to purchase molybdenum? I’ve had trouble finding it.
Alison: I got mine at the Vitamin Shoppe. Look under A to Z. Website http://www.vitaminshoppe.com and phone (800) 880-3055.
Mr. Generic: Solgar also makes it and this brand is carried in most vitamin shops. Which brand are you using? Do you know anything about the effectiveness of the different brands?
Alison: I chose the Douglas Lab/Amni because it was free of yeast and other common allergens. I cannot speak to the effectiveness of the others, as I have only taken this one. Frankly, I cannot tell what positive effects it has had on me, but I feel the same way about other important vitamins and minerals like my multi, C, and B6. After reading the same article you mentioned, I decided to add it to my arsenal. I only take 250 mcg a day, because I am too lazy to split the tablets and too scared to do a double dose!
Polly: Here are two other places to purchase various brands of molybdenum:
http://www.vitaminlife.com phone 800-996-8599
http://www.modernherbalist.com
Shelley: People on metals lists have talked about taking 250 mcg of molybdenum 3 times a day. That is to help with sulfur intolerance due to mercury toxicity. It helps convert sulfites into sulfates. I asked my doc about this dose, he said cool.
Mrs. Generic: What do you know about sulfur intolerance? I am sure I suffer from it, but I’ve not heard anyone else talk about it.
Shelley: This is a common “ailment” of the mercury toxic — and mercury (read dental amalgams) and candida go hand in hand. My doctor started suspecting mercury amalgam toxicity when he realized how I couldn’t get rid of candida. The test for sulfur intolerance comes from Great Smokies — called comprehensive liver detox panel. Trouble is that one needs a doctor that understands the subject! Look at http://www.cfsn.com . I think there should be more there about sulfur stuff.
The best way to figure out if sulfur is a problem is to cut out sulfur containing foods (I think they are actually called thiols in case you do a search) — all cruciferous vegetables, coffee, onions, garlic, eggs, spinach, are a good start. If I remember the rest, I’ll post. I have just sort of internalized not eating them so intensely now.
Jane: I’ve recently started taking some molybdenum, and lo and behold, I can eat eggs without bad leg pains/aches. I am hopeful this will allow my body to get the needed sulfur into it. This is a mercury allergic or poisoning problem, according to Shelley, as found out on the metals list. Anyhow, thought you might want to know, it’s true for me.
Mr. Generic: Jane, how much do you take?
Jane: I only take 500 mcg /day at this point. It hasn’t helped 100%, but enough to notice a difference.
Polly: If you get the liquid sublingual form, the recommended dose is less because it is absorbed better in this form. This form is carried by Allergy Research/Nutricology.