Vanadium

Vanadium is an essential nutrient in human nutrition, an ultra-trace mineral found in the human diet and body. Vanadium is found in the following products: buckwheat, parsley, soybeans, sunflower seed oil, oats, olive oil, sunflower seeds, corn, green beans, peanut oils, carrots, cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, radishes, whole wheat, onions, beets, apples, plums, lettuce. Vanadium can be helpful in diabetes. Vanadium deficiencies have not been reported and appear seldom. Excessive levels of vanadium have been linked to manic depression.

Vanadium is an ultra-trace mineral found in the human diet and body. It is essential for some animals, and deficiency symptoms in these animals include growth retardation, bone deformities, and infertility. However, vanadium has not yet 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 individuals with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), according to a study of eight diabetics supplemented with 100 mg of the mineral daily for 4 weeks. However, the researchers of this study caution that the long-term safety of such large doses of vanadium remains unknown. Many doctors of natural medicine expect future research is likely to show that amounts this high will turn out to be unsafe.

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.

Who is likely to be deficient ?

Deficiencies of the mineral vanadium have not been reported and appear unlikely.

How much to take

As yet, research indicates that most people would not benefit from vanadium supplementation. Optimal intake of vanadium is unknown. The estimated requirement is probably less than 10 mcg per day, while an average diet provides 15 to 30 mcg per day.

Side effects

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. Vanadium sometimes inhibits, but at other times stimulates, cancer growth in animals. The effect in humans remains unknown.

Vanadium is not known to interact with other nutrients.

Back To Top