What is it?
Vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral found in the human diet and the
human body. It is essential for some animals. Deficiency symptoms in
these animals include growth retardation, bone deformities, and
infertility. However, vanadium has not been proven to be an essential
mineral for humans.
Vanadium may play a role in building bones and teeth.
Vanadyl sulfate, a form of this mineral, may improve glucose control
in people with type 2 (adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent) diabetes
mellitus, according to a study of eight people with diabetes who
supplemented with 100 mg of the mineral daily for four weeks.1
However, the researchers of this study caution that the long-term safety
of such large amounts of vanadium remains unknown. Many doctors expect
future research to show that amounts this high will likely prove to be
unsafe. Moreover, in a preliminary report, vanadium did not help people
with type 1 (childhood-onset or insulin-dependent) diabetes.2
Where is it found?
Vanadium is found in very small amounts in a wide variety of foods,
including seafood, cereals, mushrooms, parsley, corn, soy, and gelatin.
Vanadium has been used in connection with the following condition
Who is likely to be deficient?
Deficiencies of vanadium have not been reported in humans, and it is
not known whether this mineral is essential for humans.
How much is usually taken?
As yet, research indicates that most people would not benefit from
vanadium supplementation. Optimal intake of vanadium is unknown. If
vanadium turns out to be essential for humans, the estimated requirement
would probably be less than 10 mcg per day. An average diet provides
15–30 mcg per day.
Are there any side effects or
interactions?
Information about vanadium toxicity is limited. Workers exposed to
vanadium dust can develop toxic effects. High blood levels have been
linked to manic-depressive mental disorders, but the meaning of this
remains uncertain.3 Vanadium sometimes inhibits, but at other
times stimulates, cancer growth in animals. However, the effect in
humans remains unknown.4
Vanadium is not known to interact with other nutrients.
At the time of writing, there were no
well-known drug interactions with vanadium.
References
1. Boden G, Chen X, Ruiz J, et al. Effects of
vanadyl sulfate on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolism
1996;45:1130–5.
2. Aharon Y, Mevorach M, Shamoon H. Vanadyl sulfate
does not enhance insulin action in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Care 1998;21:2194 [letter].
3. Naylor GJ. Vanadium and manic depressive
psychosis. Nutr Health 1984;3:79–85 [review].
4. Chakraborty A, Ghosh R, Roy K, et al. Vanadium:
a modifier of drug metabolizing enzyme patterns and its critical role in
cellular proliferation in transplantable murine lymphoma. Oncology
1995;52:310–4.
