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 sulphate, 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
Vanadium is found in very small amounts in a wide variety of foods, including seafood, cereals, mushrooms, parsley, corn, soya, and gelatine.
Vanadium has been used in connection with the following condition
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Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary
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minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal
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Deficiencies of vanadium have not been reported in humans, and it is not known whether this mineral is essential for humans.
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.
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.
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.
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2005.