|
Vanadium is a mineral which is named after the Scandinavian goddess
of beauty and youth. This mineral is believed to be an essential micronutrient. Meaning your body may need
it, but in smaller amounts. Higher doses of vanadium have been tested
as an aid to controlling blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
Like chromium, another trace mineral used
in diabetes, vanadium has also been recommended as an aid in
bodybuilding.
It is not known exactly how much vanadium people need, but is
estimated between 10 - 30 mcg daily for normal daily supplemental
levels.
Vanadium has been proposed as a treatment for diabetes based on
promising studies in animals and a few small human trials. Also,
studies in rats with and without diabetes suggest that vanadium may
have an insulin-like effect, reducing blood sugar. Based on these
findings, preliminary studies involving human subjects have been
conducted, with promising results.
A controlled double-blind placebo study with 31 weight training
athletes found no benefit at a dosage greater than 1,000 times the
daily nutritional dose.
NOTE: If you are taking insulin or other diabetes medications, then
you should get medical advice before taking vanadium because you may
need to reduce your dose of the diabetes medication.
Vanadium is also known as:
- Vanadate,
- Vanadyl Sulfate
|
