BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the joint effect of multiple essential metals (EMs) on metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to investigate individual and overall correlations of EMs with MetS and its components among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Six urine EMs, including molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V), selenium (Se), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), and magnesium (Mg), were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 2222 older adults. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were utilized to assess single EM effects. Quantile-based g-computation (Qgcomp) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to estimate the overall effects of multiple EMs. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounders, Mo was significantly inversely connected to MetS (OR = 0.852, 95 % CI: 0.750 ∼ 0.967). RCS displayed a negative linear association of Mo with MetS (P CONCLUSIONS: Urine Mo is in a linearly inverse correlation with MetS, individually and as a mixture. The EM mixture is connected to decreased MetS risk, mainly driven by Mo, which decreases the risk of high blood pressure.