Vanadium is an essential trace mineral that is present in varying amounts in the soil and in many foods. It is also released into the air by burning petroleum or petroleum products.

At the end of the last century, vanadium was prescribed as a cure for various diseases. However, it turned out to be toxic at the high doses that were prescribed.

While it is thought that trace amounts of vanadium are essential in the diet, it is not clear what role it plays in the body or whether too little vanadium has any effect on the body.

The effects of vanadium have not been studied extensively in people. The majority of studies to date have been conducted in laboratory animals.

Diabetes
In a number of animal and a few human studies, vanadyl sulfate has improved insulin sensitivity and reduced blood sugar in those with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In one study of people with type 2 diabetes, vanadium also lowered their total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

Although these studies show promise, the long-term safety of vanadium has not been established. Therefore, use of vanadium for diabetes, particularly without guidance from a knowledgeable healthcare provider, is not recommended until more information is available.

Body Building/Performance Enhancement
While vanadyl sulfate is widely used by athletes to enhance performance, beneficial effects have not been confirmed by studies. Use of vanadium is not advised because of the potential toxic effects associated with high doses of this mineral.

High Blood Pressure
Animal studies suggest that vanadyl sulfate may help improve blood pressure. This has yet to be tested on people. Therefore, until more information is available, use of vanadium for this purpose is not currently recommended.

Bipolar Disorder (Manic/Depression)
Vanadium levels may be elevated during manic episodes and blood levels may be high during times of depression. This is particularly true if the mood disorder is accompanied by psychosis (particularly delusional thoughts). Some experts suggest that following a low vanadium diet may be helpful for people with bipolar disorder.

Only about 5% of the vanadium we ingest through food is absorbed by the body. Still, vanadium supplements are rarely, if ever, necessary. Eating any of the foods listed here will provide sufficient amounts. The best sources of vanadium are mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, dill weed, grain and grain products, sweeteners, and infant cereals.

Other Forms

Vanadium exists in several forms, including vanadyl sulfate and vanadate. Vanadyl sulfate is most commonly found in nutritional supplements. Because of its potential toxicity, some experts believe that vanadium should be considered a drug and not a nutritional supplement.

Pediatric

There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of vanadium. Therefore, it is not recommended for children.

Adult

Taking 0.5 to 1.0 mg/day of vanadium is enough to meet or exceed nutritional requirements, without risking toxicity. No more than 1.8 mg/day should be used in people. Some manufacturers promote high dosages (15 to 100 mg) of vanadyl sulfate per day, but studies do not support such dosages, and they may be toxic. Because the safety and effectiveness of vanadium have not been thoroughly studied, caution should be exercised when using vanadium as a nutritional supplement.

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

Common side effects from vanadium include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and gas.

Some animals given vanadate supplements have developed anemia, low white blood cell counts (the cells that help to fight infection), and high cholesterol. While this has not been duplicated in studies of people, people with high cholesterol, anemia, an infection, or any health problem causing a low white blood cell count (such as HIV) should use extreme caution when using vanadium.

High doses of vanadium (anything over 15 mg/day) may cause liver and/or kidney damage.

Large amounts of inhaled vanadium (for example, in workers who clean petroleum storage tanks) may irritate the lungs and possibly lead to asthma.

If you are currently being treated with the following medication(s), you should not use vanadium without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Heparin
In experiments, vanadium worsened the blood thinning effects of heparin, a medication used to prevent blood clotting. For this reason, vandium should not be used together with heparin.

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