Vanadium: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Vanadium is a trace mineral regularly consumed in the diet. It's found in mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, grains, and also drinking water.

Vanadium might act like insulin or help to increase the effects of insulin.

People use vanadium for preventing vanadium deficiency. It is also used for prediabetes, diabetes, athletic performance, cancer, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

Likely Effective for

Vanadium deficiency. Taking vanadium by mouth prevents vanadium deficiency, a condition in which the body doesn't have enough vanadium.

There is interest in using vanadium for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Vanadium is commonly consumed in foods. It's likely safe when used in amounts less than 1.8 mg daily. Vanadium is possibly unsafe when used in higher amounts. Higher doses might cause stomach discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, problems with the nervous system, and kidney damage.

Special Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy: Vanadium is commonly consumed in foods. But taking vanadium as medicine during pregnancy is possibly unsafe. Having higher levels of vanadium in the body while pregnant might slow the growth of the fetus and cause other serious side effects. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Breast-feeding: Vanadium is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if vanadium is safe to use as medicine while breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Children: Vanadium is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if vanadium is safe to use as medicine in children.

Kidney problems: Vanadium might harm the kidneys. If you have kidney disease, don't use vanadium supplements.

Surgery: Vanadium might lower blood sugar and interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. It might also thin the blood and increase the chance of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking vanadium at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with Vanadium
Vanadium might lower blood sugar levels. Taking vanadium along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Vanadium
Vanadium might slow blood clotting. Taking vanadium along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Dosing

Vanadium is a trace mineral that is regularly consumed in the diet. It's found in mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, grains, and also drinking water. An average diet provides 6 to 18 mcg vanadium daily.

As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of vanadium might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.

View References

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