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Vanadyl Sulfate |
Vanadium is a mineral that when ingested appears to act as a co-factor for insulin utilization by the body (much like chromium). Vanadyl sulfate is the biologically active form of vanadium that is easily absorbed into the body.
It appears naturally in 65 minerals and is one of 26 elements found in most living things. It is a metal.
In the US it is typically found in water at a concentration of 3 parts per billion (PPB). In Japan, in water found in the area of Mt Fuji, vanadium is as high as 150 PPB and is sold as a treatment for diabetes.
Vanadium is an essential component of many enzymes. Enzymes are proteins made by the body that are essential for chemical reactions in the body. There are hundreds of different kinds of enzymes in the body. Nothing takes place in the body without them and they breakdown food into usable components Vanadyl sufate is 19% vanadium. There is currently no recommended daily amount.
It is necessary for both healthy bones and teeth.
When used in clinical studies it has been shown to help control blood glucose levels. However it only lowered glucose in individuals with elevated glucose levels but had no effect on the glucose levels of healthy individuals. It appeared to lower insulin resistance in the liver and throughout the body and reduce cholesterol.
In studies using animals with chemically induced diabetes where the pancreas , which produces insulin, was chemically damaged. After 4 weeks of vanadyl administration the glucose levels of the diabetic animals was no higher than the healthy animals, even though they had less insulin in their blood. Glucose levels in the diabetic animals that were not administered vanadyl were 3 times higher. It was believed that the vanadyl sulfate also had a positive effect on the beta cells in the pancreas.
Beta cells are where insulin is produced in the pancreas.
With vanadyl sulfate the insulin requirement was lowered by 75%. When improvements were shown when vanadyl sulfate was administered there was a residual effect of up to 20 weeks after the vanadyl was stopped.
Vanadyl has a low level of toxicity when taken at levels used in studies.
It has been used by doctors in Europe for treatment of diabetes. It may get glucose into muscle cells where it is used for energy rather than being stored in fat cells
