Vanadium

I have been reading up on Vanadium, a trace material, that has been cited by author Doctor Julian Whitaker as important for blood sugar control. I found researching Vanadium very instructive as to the practical uses of science.

From the British Health Service, which provides no way to reply on its site (what the hell do you know):

Vanadium

Vanadium is a trace element found in a wide variety of foods including seafood, meat, dairy foods, cooking oils, fresh fruit and vegetables.

How much do I need?

Vanadium isn't thought to be needed for good health.

What does it do?

It's unlikely that we need vanadium for good health.

What happens if I take too much?

Some evidence suggests taking vanadium supplements might cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea, and make your tongue turn a greenish colour.

There isn't enough information to know what the effects might be of taking vanadium supplements.

What is FSA advice?

It's unlikely that we need vanadium for good health and too much could be harmful. There is no evidence to suggest that the vanadium we get from food is harmful.

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There is no evidence it is harmful? Gee. There are no studies I can find that eating wood screws is a bad thing.

It is unlikely we need Vanadium? Lets look at the Mayo Clinic, which also agrees there is a paucity of persuasive human studies. You may be guessing, there are other opinions other than what a Medical Service bureaucrat has decided.

MAYO

Clinical Information

The element vanadium, naturally found in minerals and rocks, is considered an essential element for mammals, although conclusive evidence for humans is lacking. Animal studies have shown that vanadium is essential for mammalian growth and reproduction, iron and lipid metabolism, and red blood cell production...-----

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Let's see, an "essential element for mammals" but no conclusive studies recommend it for people even if it is "essential for mammalian growth and reproduction, iron and lipid metabolism, and red blood cell production." Yes, you are right, this is internally insane. I wonder if people actually know what they are saying. I sometimes don't, but I don't get paid for writing.

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So, let me look at a discussion of ingredients of "Carbinator" or something or other, a supplement I found on the web:

...Vanadium— Is a trace mineral that has been shown to be helpful for regulating blood sugar and insulin utilization and to help metabolize glucose levels. Vanadium has positive effects on helping to normalize blood sugar for both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and diabetes (high blood sugar).

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I had to follow up on that one.

The authors below explain the lack of studies has to do with what happens to one where they are free of vanadium. I haven't found a study to see what happens when is free of wood screws.

Diabetes Information Library

The site also, pooh poohs a bit, but adds

...Though we do ingest 10-60 micrograms per day from food, there have not been any studies in humans that examine the effects of a vanadium-free diet. One thing, however, appears clear from animal studies: vanadium is vitally important in the treatment of diabetes. ⁶

VANADIUM
1. Brichard, S., et al., Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 1995; 16(8): 265-70.
2. Orvig, C., et al., Metabolic Ions In Biological Systems, 1995; 31: 575-94.
3. Boden, G, et al., Metabolism, 1996; 45(9): 1130-35.
4. Yuen, V., et al., Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 1995; 73: 55-64.
5. Cohen, N., et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1995; 95(6): 2501-09.
6. Harland, P., et al., Journal of the American Diabetic Association, 1994; 94(8): 891-94.

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OK, One more, more that is current and more useful. It also suggests why institutional medicine is steering us away from looking at Vanadium:

Natural Insulin-Mimetics: Foods Containing Vanadium

July 16, 2007 by

alvero godwillas

alvero godwillas

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Compounds made from vanadium act as insulin-mimetics and are currently being studied to see if they could be potential oral replacements for insulin. The downfall to this is that these substances are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the amounts that may be needed to

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The article warns of having too much Vanadium as it mimics insulin. Then again, the article was just a report by someone who got paid $15. (I know what they pay.)

It starts to make sense, why would someone want to prescribe mussels to moderate an insulin problem when he could take an injection or why would a national health plan want to distribute another product if it does have to? A pound is a pound, after all.

A real book , those archaic paper things, says studies show Vanadium has helped where too much insulin is being excreted as it is not effective, insulin resistance, which is what I worry about. I just avoid sugar as best I can, but it is everywhere. This is where exercise is vital as there it burns blood sugar nicely and eliminates the concern for a little while, so you can pig out.

The point: don't listen to anyone but me.