Vanadium
What is it?
Vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral found in the human diet and the human body which is very essential for some animals and its deficiency cause growth retardation, bone deformities, and infertility. However, it has been proven that it is not an essential mineral for humans.
There are various advantages of vanadium. The most important of it is that it plays a role in building bones and teeth.
Many compounds composed of vanadium has beneficial effects like Vanadyl sulfate which is a form of this mineral responsible for improving 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 But its unlimited use is very doubtful according to researchers. 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?
There are any sources of vanadium. It 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?
There is no report till date about the deficiency of vanadium in humans and also 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?
Even though there is very less information regarding its effects but it is known that 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