Molybdenum: Genetics, sulfur metabolism, and more
Genetic Lifehacks Weekly Newsletter
Micronutrients and trace minerals:
Trace minerals are important in small amounts because they can act as cofactors for the enzymes that drive cellular reactions.
This week's new article and genotype report focuses on molybdenum as a micronutrient cofactor. It explains why molybdenum is essential as a cofactor for enzymes that break down sulfur-containing amino acids, as well as purine metabolism. Foods high in molybdenum include black-eye peas, liver, lima beans, and dairy products. Molybdenum is also naturally occurring in the water in many regions.
Molybdenum is one of several minerals covered on Genetic Lifehacks. If you're interested in how your genes interact with minerals, check out:
I've put together a new summary report on Minerals so that members can easily see their genetic variants and click through to the relevant articles.
Understanding your genetic variants can help you to know if you may need a little more of a mineral in your diet -- or whether you may need a little less than average, especially with HFE mutations and iron balance.
Gratefully yours,
~ Debbie
New articleMolybdenum: Genetic Connections, Sulfur Metabolism, and Cofactor Deficiency
Key takeaways:
~ Molybdenum is an essential trace mineral that we get in small amounts through our diet.
~ As a cofactor, molybdenum is essential for the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids, breaking down purine, and the metabolism of certain medications.
~ A few common genetic variants mildly affect molybdenum-dependent enzymes, while rare mutations related to molybdenum can have a large effect size.
Read the rest of the article here
What I've been reading:
1. mKRAS-specific amphiphile vaccine
This phase I clinical trial in 25 people for a vaccine that targets mutant KRAS is interesting. KRAS mutations are found in about 25% of cancerous tumors, so the concept here is that training the immune system to kill cells with mutant KRAS can stop cancer recurrence. The patients had either pancreatic or colon cancer, and the survival time exceeded normal averages.
2. BPA, BPS, and BPF levels and Gout
A 2024 study looked at the levels of urinary bisphenols compared to uric acid levels and gout diagnosis. The results showed that higher bisphenol levels increase the relative risk of gout by 46%.
GL article: BPA and BPS Detoxification genes
3. Reducing the risk of long Covid with an antihistamine nasal spray
This study is from November of last year, but I had missed seeing it. The researchers found that using a nasal antihistamine spray reduced the risk of getting long Covid significantly. The study used chlorpheniramine, which is an older antihistamine that was patented in the 1940s (a brand name in the US is Chlor-Trimeton). The Covid patients (n=259) were randomized 1:1 to use the antihistamine nasal spray. There was a significant decrease in long Covid symptoms when surveyed a few months after their illness. To put the significance into perspective, in the nasal spray arm, there were 0 with fatigue and brain fog compared to >15% in the placebo arm.