Molybdenum is not a risk factor for changes in serum testosterone

Abstract Molybdenum is a bio-essential trace nutrient, and elevated urinary molybdenum has been implicated as correlating with lower testosterone levels in men. To properly address the contention that molybdenum constitutes a potential health risk factor, we reviewed statistical research findings on molybdenum exposure and somatic levels in humans in a biological plausibility context, which is an indispensable component of reliable risk factor determination. Our analysis applied advanced nonparametric statistical modeling that expands linear regressions to include more potential variables and common confounders. The analysis shows that previously published negative molybdenum-testosterone associations no longer retain statistical relevance. In place of molybdenum as a stressor responsible for lowered testosterone levels, body mass index, age, related hormone variability, and underlying global downward trends in testosterone are shown to be the factors responsible for this effect.