You have probably not heard of vanadium unless it was recommended by a doctor or you are into muscle building. That is because our bodies require very little of this trace mineral and it is found abundantly in most diets. Vanadium deficiencies are very rare.
Vanadium can be toxic in high levels so you should only use supplements under doctor supervision. The most common form of vanadium supplements is called vanadyl sulfate. This is a salt form and therefore is much easier for the body to absorb.
Vanadium is necessary for bone and tooth development as well as metabolizing carbs, cholesterol and lipids. It may also be used to treat a variety of disorders. It has been used for treating conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, and tuberculosis.
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Recommended Daily Allowance For Vanadium The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vanadium is only about 10-30 micrograms a day. It can be found in foods such as mushrooms, seafood, soybeans, carrots, parsley, green beans, oats, and cabbage. Sunflower, corn, safflower and olive oils ... more
The U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vanadium is only about 10-30 micrograms a day. It can be found in foods such as mushrooms, seafood, soybeans, carrots, parsley, green beans, oats, and cabbage. Sunflower, corn, safflower and olive oils are also high in vanadium.
Vanadium works in much the same way insulin does. It assists in the transfer of glucose to the muscles and increases the sensitivity of muscles to insulin.
Insulin resistant diabetes may be treated more effectively by vanadium supplements. However, according to an article published by the University of Maryland, scientists are unsure of the dangers of taking vanadium at levels need to produce results. More studies need to be conducted and it should only be used if prescribed by your doctor.
Studies conducted on the effectiveness of vanadium to treat diabetes also showed some lowering of cholesterol in participants. At this time no studies have been dedicated to solely using vanadium to treat high cholesterol and heart disease.
Because vanadium increases absorption of sugar (glucose) by the muscles, it is used in some body building supplements. The theory is that increased sugar means increased muscle energy. The result is more mass, vascularity, and blood flow.
In addition to a greater pump, the increase of muscle mass directly following a workout, vanadium is marketed to aid in muscle recovery. Manufacturers claim it can shorten recovery times because it keeps proteins in the blood stream doing their jobs properly.
While a vanadium deficiency is rare, it is possible to have one if you are unable to eat a balanced diet or have certain stomach disorders that block absorption of minerals. The Livestrong website also says frequent or yo-yo dieting can cause mineral deficiencies in the body.
Some popular diet crazes limit the types of food eaten so severely that you may not be consuming any natural vanadium sources. You should always make sure any diet you are on has many different types of foods from every food group.
Symptoms of vanadium deficiency are chronic thirst, frequent urination, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, obesity, sugar cravings, and infertility. These may also be symptoms of a number of other diseases. See a doctor if you suspect you have a vanadium deficiency.
According to Web MD, taking only 1.8 mg of vanadium a day is probably safe. However larger doses like those needed to treat diabetes can have the following side effects abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, and gas.
Other side effects of vanadium are your tongue turning a greenish hue. Some people also experienced fatigue. Taking large doses for long periods of time may cause kidney damage.
If you are taking medications to slow clotting such as Plavix, Voltaren, Cataflam, ibuprofen, naproxen, Fragmin, Lovenox, heparin, or warfarin, you should not take vanadium supplements. When vanadium is combined with these medications it may thin your blood too much and increase your risk for bleeding.
Vanadium may lower your blood sugar too much, resulting in hypoglycemia. If you have diabetes you should monitor your levels very closely.
Because vanadium lowers blood glucose levels, you should not use such supplements while on diabetes medications. These medications include:
The National Institute of Medicine says you should not consume more than 1.8 mg per day for adults. No level has been set for infants and children.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also not use vanadium supplements. These individuals should only consume vanadium found naturally in food. This is because safety at higher levels is unknown at this time.
To locate and compare products containing vanadium, use the supplement finder now!
| Abdominal Discomfort |
| Contraindicated During Pregnancy |
| Contraindicated For Certain Drugs Or Medication |
| Diarrhea |
| Fatigue |
| Gas |
| Nausea |
| Overdose May Cause Kidney Damage |
| Tongue Turning A Greeninsh Hue |
| Diabetes |
| Heart Disease |
| Muscle Mass |
| Muscle Recovery |
| Tuberculosis |