Comparison of Blood Concentration of Molybdenum in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome and with or without Type 2 Diabetes

Several studies reported that there is a relationship between type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome and alteration in trace elements homeostasis. This study was designed to evaluate the whole blood concentration of molybdenum in patients with metabolic syndrome and with or without type 2diabetes.
This cross-sectional study involved 125 subjects (men and women) divided in three groups based on criteria defined for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The subjects were normal control (n = 40), metabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes (n = 45), and metabolic syndrome with type 2 diabetes (n = 40). In all the subjects, whole blood level of molybdenum was measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) after acid digestion by HNO3 (1N) and H2O2 (30%). The data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Findings: Whole blood concentration of molybdenum in patients with metabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes (4.72 ± 2.58 µg/l) was significantly lower than that of normal control group (7.15 ± 6.60 µg/l) (P 0.05). In addition, whole blood level of molybdenum in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (5.83 ± 3.94 µg/l) was lower than that of normal group and higher than that of patients with metabolic syndrome without type 2 diabetes (P 0.05 for both).
Our results revealed that metabolic syndrome alters the level of molybdenum in patients. Molybdenum level in patients type 2 diabetes was lower than normal subjects. Therefore, the molybdenum level could be correlated to metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Molybdenum is known to mimic insulin effects, so consumption of foods rich in molybdenum or prescription of molybdenum-containing supplements in the cases of deficiency could be useful.