Vanadium

Vanadium

• Vanadium is the twenty-first most abundant element in the Earth's crust and the second- to most abundant transition metal in seawater.

• The element is ubiquitous also in freshwater and nutrients. The average body load of a human individual amounts to 1 mg. Since vanadate can be considered a close blueprint of phosphate with respect to its built-up, vanadate likely takes over a regulatory function in metabolic processes depending on phosphate. At common concentrations, vanadium is non-toxic.

• Vanadium is an over-the-counter mineral used for treating diabetes, low blood sugar, high cholesterol, heart disease, tuberculosis, syphilis, anemia, and water retention (edema); for improving athletic performance in weight training; and for preventing cancer.

• Potential health benefits of vanadium: May improve sensitivity to insulin in type 1 and 2 diabetes; may also lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Mechanism of Action:

• The similarity between vanadate and phosphate accounts for the interplay between vanadate and phosphate-dependent enzymes: phosphatases can be inhibited, kinases activated.

Dosage:

• 50-100 meg/day.

Evidence:

• It has been reported that in human beings, pharmacologic amounts of, i.e.. 10-100 times higher than the normal intake, affect cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism, influence the erythrocyte shape, and stimulate hepatic glucose oxidation and glycogen synthesis.

• Multidirectional studies on Vanadium have shown that further analyses are still required for this element to be used as a metallodrug in the fight against certain life-threatening diseases.

Precautions:

• Little is known about the safety of taking vanadium regularly. However, there's some evidence that vanadium may be harmful to people with certain health conditions including disorders of the blood, respiratory system, and immune system.

• In addition, some research suggests that excessive consumption of vanadium may cause damage to the liver and/or kidneys.

Interactions:

• Vanadium may lower blood glucose and may also slow blood clotting.