|
|
| Proper name |
Vanadium |
| Category |
Trace
Mineral |
| Functions |
Vanadium stimulates glucose metabolism, lowering blood sugar levels in type
II diabetics. This insulin-like activity may be due to decreasing the activity
of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate (which causes gluconeogenesis) and by
increasing the activity of two glycolytic enzymes, glucokinase and phosphofructokinase,
and by increasing the storage of glucose as glycogen. At high doses, vanadium
helps to lower serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Vanadium may assist
in building bones and teeth. Vanadium may be involved in NADPH oxidation
reactions, lipoprotein lipase activity, amino acid transport and the growth
of red blood cells. |
| RDA |
None established. The average diet is estimated to contain 15 -30 mcg per
day, which is considered adequate. |
| Therapeutic
dose |
250
mcg to 15 mg. |
| Deficiency symptoms |
There are no known deficiency symptoms associated with sulfur. |
| Toxicity |
No toxicity as a dietary nutrient has been reported. Excessive vanadium
intake through inhalation has been reported in industrial situations. Vanadium
toxicity has been created in experimental animals, producing developmental
abnormalities, birth defects, embryonic death and decreased fertility. |
| Best
forms
|
Bis(maltolato)oxovanadium, an organic vanadium complex may be better absorbed
than Vanadyl sulfate. |
| Food
sources |
The
greatest concentrations are found in fats and vegetable oils. Vanadium may
also be found in grains, meat, fish, nuts dill seeds, parsley, black pepper
and mushrooms. |
| Lab
tests |
Hair mineral analysis. |
| Drug
interactions |
None
known |
| Nutrient interactions |
Not known |
| Metabolism |
Vanadium is absorbed
from food and stored primarily in the liver, kidneys and bone and well
as fat and serum lipids.
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