Vanadium

Effects and Benefits

Core Identification

Common Names:
- Vanadium
- Vanadyl sulfate (supplement form)

Latin Name: N/A (mineral element)

Category: Mineral

Uses

Traditional Uses

• Not traditionally used as a medicinal supplement
• Food sources historically include mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, and dill

Modern Uses

• Blood sugar support - May help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism | Research quality: Preliminary
• Key findings: Studies show vanadium mimics insulin action and may improve glucose uptake in cells

• Source citations: Wilen - Healing Remedies; Colbert - Reversing Diabetes

• Insulin mimetic action - May enhance the body's response to insulin | Research quality: Preliminary

• Key findings: Vanadyl sulfate has been shown to improve cells' sensitivity to insulin
• Source citations: Balch - Prescription for Herbal Healing

Active Compounds

Primary Active Ingredients:
- Vanadyl sulfate - The most common supplemental form; mimics insulin signaling
- Sodium metavanadate - Another supplemental form used in research

Dosage Information

Standard Dosage:
- Form: Capsule (typically as vanadyl sulfate)
- Amount: 10-30 mcg per day (amount often found in multivitamins)
- Note: No established RDA; typical dietary intake is 6-18 mcg/day

Therapeutic Dosage:
- Form: Capsule
- Amount: 50-100 mg vanadyl sulfate per day (much higher than dietary levels)
- Purpose: Blood sugar support
- Duration: Under medical supervision only
- Note: Some practitioners report using 100-150 mg/day, though this is controversial

Maximum Safe Dosage:
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level: 1.8 mg/day (1,800 mcg) established by Institute of Medicine
- Warning: Therapeutic doses far exceed this level; long-term safety unknown

Bioavailability Notes:
- Poorly absorbed (approximately 5% or less)
- Vanadyl sulfate form most commonly used in supplements
- May be better absorbed with food

How to Take It

Timing:
- Take with meals to reduce GI upset
- Divide doses throughout the day if taking higher amounts

Synergies - What It Works Well With

Complementary Supplements:
1. Chromium - Both support glucose metabolism | Combined effect may enhance insulin sensitivity
2. Magnesium - Supports overall glucose balance | Both minerals involved in carbohydrate metabolism

Avoidance - What NOT to Combine With

Supplement Interactions:
1. High-dose iron - May compete for absorption | Take at different times

Drug Interactions:
1. Insulin - Vanadium may enhance insulin effects, risking hypoglycemia | Monitor blood sugar closely; may need dose adjustment | Severity: Moderate
2. Oral diabetes medications - Additive blood sugar-lowering effects | Risk of hypoglycemia | Severity: Moderate
3. Blood thinners (anticoagulants/antiplatelets) - May enhance bleeding risk | Use with caution | Severity: Moderate

Food Interactions:
- None well-documented
- Taking with food reduces GI side effects

Safety Information

Contraindications:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (insufficient safety data)
- Kidney disease (vanadium is excreted through kidneys)
- Bipolar disorder (may affect manic episodes in some reports)
- Children (not enough research)

Side Effects:
- Common: GI upset, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping (especially at higher doses)
- Less common: Green tongue discoloration
- Rare: Potential kidney toxicity at very high doses

Long-Term Use:
- Long-term safety at therapeutic doses not well established
- Most studies are short-term (weeks to months)
- Regular monitoring recommended if using for extended periods

Special Precautions:
- Discontinue 2 weeks before surgery
- People with diabetes should work closely with healthcare provider
- Start with lower doses to assess tolerance

Primary Uses At-a-Glance

Primary: Blood sugar support, insulin sensitivity

Secondary: General glucose metabolism support

Sources

Local Library:
- Wilen, Lydia - Healing Remedies
- Colbert, Don - Reversing Diabetes
- Balch, Phyllis - Prescription for Herbal Healing

General Knowledge:
- Institute of Medicine dietary reference intakes
- Clinical studies on vanadyl sulfate and diabetes