General Description
Vanadium is a metalic trace mineral found in minute amounts in the
human body. This soft, steel-gray, corrosion-resistant metal was
first discovered by the Spanish mineralogist Andres Manuel del Rio,
who believed it was an impure chromium ore. The mineral was rediscovered
in 1830 by The Swedish chemist Nils Gabriel Sefstrom, who named
it after Vanadis, the Norse goddess of youth and beauty. Vanadium
is used industrially in the production of high-strength steel alloys.
Its role in human nutrition is not fully known, but it is believed
to play a role in regulating glucose metabolism and and as a building
material for bones and teeth.1 Vanadium is available
as a dietary supplement in the form of vanadyl sulfate.
Food Sources
Low concentrations of vanadium are found in most foods. Good sources
include milk, lobster, vegetable oils, vegetables, grains, and
cereals.1 The estimated average daily intake
for Americans ranges from 10 to 60 micrograms.2
Health Applications
- Diabetes
- Athletic performance
Deficiency Symptoms
Although vanadium is believed to be an essential trace mineral,
a vanadium-deficiency disease has not been identified in humans.
Blood Sugar Control
Most of the research on vanadium has focused on its insulin-like
activity. In animal models, vanadium compounds have been shown
to mimic the activity of insulin and to be effective in the treatment
of both type I and type II diabetes.3 Studies
conducted on human subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (NIDDM) have shown that vanadyl sulfate can improve insulin
sensitivity and glucose utilization;4-6 however,
it may not be well tolerated at the dosages needed to dramatically
improve insulin sensitivity.7 In recent years,
vanadyl sulfate has become popular among bodybuilders and weight-training
athletes looking to improve performance by enhancing glucose utilization.
However, there is no scientific evidence to support such use,
and one study indicates that vanadyl sulfate is ineffective for
changing body composition in weight-training athletes.8
Dosage/Toxicity
In general, vanadium compounds have low toxicity because the mineral
is rapidly excreted via the urine, with a biological half-life
of 20 to 40 hours. Industrial exposure to vanadium dust has been
associated with irritation of the upper respiratory tract characterized
by wheezing, nasal hemorrhage, cough, sore throat, and chest pain.2
Vanadyl sulfate is commonly used by athletes in doses up to 60
milligrams per day, and it appears to be safe at this dosage range.
Doses above 150 milligrams per day have been associated with gastrointestinal
symptoms.7 Because it may influence blood
sugar levels and insulin requirements, people with diabetes should
not take vanadium supplements unless supervised by a physician.
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