Vanadium v Sulfate

A small number of studies suggest that vanadium can help reduce blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. However, many of these studies use doses that are far above the tolerable upper intake level (UL), which is 1.8 mg per day of elemental vanadium for adults.

Glucose Transport

Vanadate and pervanadate stimulate glucose transport into sarcolemmal vesicles from skeletal muscle cells in the presence of insulin by a mechanism independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase C. These findings support a role for vanadium in the regulation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase system and in skeletal muscle glucose homeostasis.

Insulin Sensitivity

A small number of human trials showed that vanadium could improve insulin sensitivity and decrease blood sugar and total cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. However, these dosages were significantly above the UL for adult humans, and they also caused unwanted side effects like nausea, gas, and diarrhea.

Lowering Cholesterol

A number of human trials have shown that vanadium can lower cholesterol by reducing the body’s tendency to make triglycerides, a form of fat. In addition, a recent study showed that vanadium can reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase.

Low Dose Administration of Bis(maltolato) Oxovanadium IV Inhibits Hepatic G6-Phosphatase and Peptidase Activation in Obese Zucker Rats.

This is one of the first studies to show that bis(maltolato) oxovanadium can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, more studies are needed to determine whether this supplement is safe and effective.