Vanadyl Sulfate... Why is this toxic garbage in our supplements?

[Diab0lic]

Why take it anyway? Its an ultra-trace mineral

Surely supplementation with something like this is only effective if one is deficient?

Surely if you eat enough grains and veges your ass is covered?

[CognitiveNutrition]

Why take it anyway? Its an ultra-trace mineral

Surely supplementation with something like this is only effective if one is deficient?

Surely if you eat enough grains and veges your ass is covered?

Most people probably have enough in their diet. I don't see much reason for anyone to take it.

[gjohnson5]

?????


If there's an MSDS saying a chemical is toxic , then it's toxic.
Not sure what else you'd need...

Leonidas...Steve...can you post published literature to back up your insults?

Is there any clinical data that shows that Leo is stupid...or that Steve is shady?

[leonidas300]

Leonidas...Steve...can you post published literature to back up your insults?

Is there any clinical data that shows that Leo is stupid...or that Steve is shady?

There was a study conducted by John Hopkins University to examine the intellectual brain power of people named Leonidas300 on bodybuilding.com. The study concluded that leonidas300's IQ is in the med/high genius realm + he is damned handsome. The study did note that leonidas300 does have trouble playing with others and has a propensity towards sarcasm.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Vanadyl Sulfate Info And Products
Insulin Mimicking Mineral

1. What is it and where does it come from?

Vanadyl sulfate, one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements, is derived from trace mineral vanadium. Bodybuilding.com carries the highest quality vanadyl sulfate available!


2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?

Athletes have long used vanadyl sulfate to increase their performance. It is believed to play a role in helping to regulate the body's healthy blood sugar levels, similar to insulin. Studies show that vanadyl sulfate mainly helps the muscle cells uptake glucose (instead of fat cells (adipocytes) uptaking glucose). Basically, by mimicking the actions of insulin, vanadyl sulfate forces more proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates directly into muscles. Vanadyl sulfate is an awesome, popular supplement that seems to work for building better muscles; nevertheless, the scientific jury is still deliberating.

[ Top 5 Sellers ]
1. Angel Sports Nutrition Extreme Drive Power Formula
2. Eclipse 2000 Vanadyl Sulfate
3. Ultimate Nutrition Vanadyl Sulfate
4. Performance Research Vertex
5. Dymatize NOV



3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Bodybuilders find vanadyl sulfate especially effective because of the fullness it gives their muscles. Weight lifters and bodybuilders take vanadyl to increase their results while working out and because they experience greater pumps and vascularity. Symptoms of deficiency are not associated with vanadyl sulfate.


4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

The recommended dosage is between 30 and 50 mg per day with meals in divided doses. Supplementing with vanadyl sulfate is safe and effective when taken in the recommended amounts. As with most trace minerals, over supplementing may be toxic, so don't take too much!

Republished from Clayton South's Health Facts.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/van.html

[NO HYPE]

Ronald Roth, MD -

In practice, vanadium rarely becomes as deficient as molybdenum. In fact, it is very uncommon that vanadium would require supplementation at all (ankylosing spondylitis being a rare exception), because of the chemical interactions it is part of, and where molybdenum and chromium levels would both have to be much higher than vanadium.

In animal studies, vanadium has been found to function similarly to insulin by helping to maintain blood glucose levels the same as in the control group, despite lower serum insulin, while at the same time making cell membrane insulin receptors more sensitive to insulin.

In human studies, daily insulin requirements in Type I diabetics decreased by as much as 14%, and in Type II diabetics, there was an increase in insulin sensitivity observed following vanadium treatments using either vanadyl sulphate or sodium metavanadate.

So why don't doctors tell their patients to supplement vanadium in order to reduce insulin requirements? Well, perhaps some studies just don't compare to clinical applications in the real world.My own patient feedback has not been favorable to vanadium supplementation so far for diabetes. Instead of reducing insulin requirements, blood sugar had gone up following vanadium supplementation!

Both, vanadium and molybdenum have anticarcinogenic (anti-cancer) properties in regard to breast cancer (V+Mo) in animal models, and eso****eal cancer and stomach cancer (Mo) in humans, which may be due to the copper-inhibiting effect of molybdenum, or possibly by Mo protecting the body from nitrosamine formation as a result of consuming foods (meats or vegetables) high in nitrates or nitrites.

According to some sources, supplementing vanadium has the potential to improve athletic performance because of the anabolic effect of vanadyl sulfate being similar to insulin (supposedly resulting in higher liver and muscle glycogen stores), however the validity of that claim is not universally accepted.

For individuals suffering from bipolar / manic-depressive illness, there is evidence of possible adverse effects from increased vanadium intake due to its causative or aggravating impact on reduced sodium pump activity.

Short of minimal amounts present in some multi-mineral formulations, the effects of supplementing higher amounts of vanadium (as vanadyl sulphate) on a regular basis - when not indicated - can have detrimental side effects that may include anything from various aches and pains and flu-like symptoms (partly as a result of inhibiting chromium), to eventually vanadium causing all kinds of bizarre, chemical imbalances. Supplementing higher amounts of vanadium can also cause a very noticeable green discoloration of the tongue.



Symptoms and/or Risk Factors: Arthritis, aching bones, jaw, teeth, tonsils, ears, weakened immune system, chronic colds, gastrointestinal problems, trabecular bone loss

Vanadium Synergists: Selenium (see text above), zinc, fluoride,

Vanadium Sources: Vegetable oils, fats, olives, black pepper, seafood

http://www.acu-cell.com/vmo.html



Dr. Roth graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1982 and then successfully completed the Affiliated Residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He currently serves as an attending physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Emergency Department. In addition, he serves as the Associate Medical Director of Pittsburgh EMS and is active with direct and indirect Medical control issues with Pittsburgh EMS. Dr. Roth serves as the Medical Director of the Pittsburgh Emergency Operation Center (911 Center), and also as Medical Director of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire First Responder program, as well as Medical Director for the Pittsburgh Marathon. Dr Roth served as the Co-Medical Director for the NHTSA EMT-P and EMT-I Revision Project and serves as Medical Director for Paramedic training at the Center for Emergency Medicine for Western Pennsylvania. Dr. Roth is also an attending physician in Hyperbaric Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Vanadium Supplement, Vanadyl Sulfate by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Benefit of Vanadium supplement and side effects
Vanadium is a mineral that can be found listed on a periodic table of the elements. Vanadium is also available as a supplement in the form of vanadyl sulfate.

Vanadyl sulfate is a form of the trace element vanadium, which is important for normal cell function and development. Vanadyl sulfate may help maintain blood sugar levels already in the normal range.

Dosage: As with many supplements, particularly certain minerals, it is a good idea to take a day or two off each week, and a week off every month or two. Not enough long term research in humans is available with vanadium sulfate to determine the ideal dosage and frequency of use, nor the long term vanadyl sulfate side effects.

Vanadium use for diabetes
Vanadium may be helpful in diabetes or blood sugar control.

DIABETES MELLITUS - Vanadium - Clinical trials of both vanadate and vanadyl have been carried out in either or both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Modest improvement in glucose tolerance and/or insulin sensitivity, especially in type 2 diabetes, has been observed, although the trials have been for a short period. Treatment with sodium metavanadate at 1 mmol/day for 2 weeks resulted in significantly improved insulin sensitivities as measured by a 2-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique in type 2 diabetic subjects only. Subjects also had reductions in cholesterol levels. Type 1 diabetics had decreased insulin requirements during the treatment period. Hemoglobin A1c levels were decreased by 10% on average in both groups. Oral vanadyl sulfate at 0.5 mmol/day for 3 weeks followed by 2 weeks of placebo showed increasing insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic subjects, which was sustained during the withdrawal period. Decreases in fasting plasma glucose and percent hemoglobin A1c were also seen. Safety and efficacy were evaluated at a higher dose of vanadyl sulfate therapy for 4 weeks at 1 mmol/day, resulting in significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose by 20%, and a reduction in hepatic insulin resistance. This dose was fairly well tolerated, although 6 of 8 subjects had gastrointestinal disturbances. In 16 type 2 diabetics who were given 3 graded doses of vanadyl sulfate at 75, 150 and 300 mg/day, equivalent to 0.35, 0.70 and 1.4 mmol/day of vanadium, over a 6-week period, there were significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose and percent hemoglobin A1c, although there was no correlation between plasma vanadium and clinical response. Vanadium is a redox active element, and oxidative stress was not increased overall with vanadium treatment. In a 12-week study in weight training non-diabetic adults, vanadyl sulfate at 0.5 mg/kg/day showed a complete lack of toxic, anabolic or hematologic effects. In 11 type 2 diabetic subjects who were treated with150 mg/day of vanadyl sulfate for 6 weeks, there was a 20% reduced fasting plasma glucose, 10% reduced percent hemoglobin A1c from 8.2 to 7.6%, and a decreased fructosamine level by 16%. Vanadyl sulfate treatment also lowered plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, but did not affect 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, and was well-tolerated with a progressively increased dose treatment regimen. ?Vanadium Compounds in the Treatment of Diabetes,? Thompson KH, Orvig C, Met Ions Biol Syst. 2004;41:7:221-252. (Address: Dr. KH Thompson.

Types of Vanadium
The element vanadium is found in many forms including vanadium pentoxide, vanadate, vanadium oxide and vanadyl sulfate or vanadyl sulphate. Vanadyl Sulfate is the form used in supplements and it is available in health food stores and online.

Combination of vanadyl sulfate and taurine
Vanadyl sulfate, taurine, and combined vanadyl sulfate and taurine treatments in diabetic rats: effects on the oxidative and antioxidative systems.
Arch Med Res. 2007 Apr;38(3):276-83. Department of Biology, Science and Literature Faculty, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
Vanadyl sulfate and taurine are two promising agents in the treatment of diabetes related to their antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and hyperinsulinemic effects. The findings of the present study suggest that Vanadyl sulfate and taurine exert beneficial effects on the blood glucose and lipid levels in STZ-NA diabetic rats. However, Vanadyl sulfate might exert prooxidative or antioxidative effects in various components of the body and taurine and Vanadyl sulfate combination might be an alternative for sole Vanadyl sulfate administration.

Vanadium Vanadyl Sulfate Research Update
Metabolic effects of vanadyl sulfate in humans with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: in vivo and in vitro studies.
Metabolism. 2000 Mar;49(3):400-10. Goldfine AB, Patti ME, Zuberi L, Goldstein BJ, LeBlanc R, Landaker EJ, Jiang ZY, Willsky GR, Kahn CR. Joslin Diabetes Center, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of action of vanadium salts as oral hypoglycemic agents, 16 type 2 diabetic patients were studied before and after 6 weeks of vanadyl sulfate treatment at three doses. Glucose metabolism during a euglycemic insulin clamp did not increase at 75 mg/d, but improved in 3 of 5 subjects receiving 150 mg vanadyl sulfate and 4 of 8 subjects receiving 300 mg vanadyl sulfate. Basal hepatic glucose production (HGP) and suppression of HGP by insulin were unchanged at all doses. Fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) decreased significantly in the 150- and 300-mg vanadyl sulfate groups. At the highest dose, total cholesterol decreased, associated with a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). There was no change in systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial blood pressure on 24-hour ambulatory monitors at any dose. There was no apparent correlation between the clinical response and peak serum level of vanadium. The 150- and 300-mg vanadyl doses caused some gastrointestinal intolerance but did not increase tissue oxidative stress as assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). In muscle obtained during clamp studies prior to vanadium therapy, insulin stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and Shc proteins by 2- to 3-fold, while phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activity associated with IRS-1 increased 4.7-fold during insulin stimulation. Following vanadium, there was a consistent trend for increased basal levels of insulin receptor, Shc, and IRS-1 protein tyrosine phosphorylation and IRS-1-associated PI 3-kinase, but no further increase with insulin. There was no discernible correlation between tyrosine phosphorylation patterns and glucose disposal responses to vanadyl. While glycogen synthase fractional activity increased 1.5-fold following insulin infusion, there was no change in basal or insulin-stimulated activity after vanadyl. There was no increase in the protein phosphatase activity of muscle homogenates to exogenous substrate after vanadyl. Vanadyl sulfate appears safe at these doses for 6 weeks, but at the tolerated doses, it does not dramatically improve insulin sensitivity or glycemic control. Vanadyl modifies proteins in human skeletal muscle involved in early insulin signaling, including basal insulin receptor and substrate tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PI 3-kinase, and is not additive or synergistic with insulin at these steps. Vanadyl sulfate does not modify the action of insulin to stimulate glycogen synthesis. Since glucose utilization is improved in some patients, vanadyl must also act at other steps of insulin action.

Effect of vanadium(IV) compounds in the treatment of diabetes: in vivo and in vitro studies with vanadyl sulfate and bis(maltolato)oxovandium(IV).
Journal Inorganic Biochemistry. 2001 May;85(1):33-42. Willsky GR, Goldfine AB, Kostyniak PJ, McNeill JH,
Toxicology Research Center, SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY
Vanadyl sulfate was given orally to 16 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus for 6 weeks at a dose of 25, 50, or 100 mg vanadium daily [Goldfine et al., Metabolism 49 (2000) 1-12]. Elemental vanadium was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. There was no correlation of vanadium in serum with clinical response, determined by reduction of mean fasting blood glucose or increased insulin sensitivity during euglycemic clamp. To investigate the effect of administering a coordinated vanadium, plasma glucose levels were determined in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats treated with the salt Vanadyl sulfate or the coordinated Vvanadium compound bis(maltolato)oxo vanadium (IV) (abbreviated as VO(malto)(2)) administered by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. There was no relationship of blood vanadium concentration with plasma glucose levels in the animals treated with Vanadyl sulfate, similar to our human diabetic patients. However, with VO(malto)(2) treatment, animals with low plasma glucose tended to have high blood vanadium. To determine if vanadium binding to serum proteins could diminish biologically active serum vanadium, binding of both Vanadyl sulfate and VO(malto)(2) to human serum albumin (HSA), human apoTransferrin (apoHTf) and pig immunoglobulin (IgG) was studied with EPR spectroscopy. Both Vanadyl sulfate and VO(malto)(2) bound to HSA and apoHTf forming different V-protein complexes, while neither vanadium compound bound to the IgG. Vanadyl sulfate and VO(malto)(2) showed differences when levels of plasma glucose and blood vanadium in diabetic rodents were compared, and in the formation of V-protein complexes with abundant serum proteins. These data suggest that binding of vanadium compounds to ligands in blood, such as proteins, may affect the available pool of vanadium for biological effects.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Ray Sahelian, M.D., obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in nutrition from Drexel University and completed his doctoral training at Thomas Jefferson Medical School, both in Philadelphia. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

A popular and respected physician and medical writer, Dr. Sahelian is internationally recognized as a moderate voice in the evaluation of natural supplements. In his books, articles, and website, he discusses both the benefits and risks of these supplements. He thoroughly evaluates both the published research and hands on actual patient feedback. He is often asked by medical doctors, scientists, researchers, and academics regarding his thoughts on nutritional research projects. For instance, in September of 2007, he was asked by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, to be an External Assessor for the Complementary and Alternative Medicine grant scheme.

What makes Dr. Sahelian different than almost all other doctors who write about supplements (based only on published research) is that he actually tests on himself various herbs and nutrients in varying dosages to determine what kind of effect they have. It is through this experimental and experiential method that has provided him with significant insights into herbs and supplements that few other medical doctors have discovered. In addition, Dr. Sahelian, over his many years of medical and nutritional practice, has had personal feedback from thousands of his patients who were prescribed supplements, along with tens of thousands of supplement users who have emailed him writing about their experiences, both positive and negative. There's hardly anyone else on this planet who has gathered this type of neutraceutical information from so many varied sources.

Dr. Sahelian has been seen on television programs including NBC Today, NBC Nightly News, CBS This Morning, Dateline NBC, and CNN, quoted by countless major magazines such as Newsweek, Modern Maturity, Health, and newspapers including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Le Monde (France). Millions of radio listeners nationwide hear him discuss the latest research on health. Many of his books have been translated into several languages, including Japanese, Korean, Italian, German, Russian, and Chinese. He was featured in the September, 2007 issue of Vitamin Retailer magazine.

Dr. Sahelian is in private practice in Los Angeles, CA.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Toxicity studies on one-year treatment of non-diabetic and treptozotocin-diabetic rats with vanadyl sulphate.

Pharmacol Toxicol (DENMARK) Nov 1994, 75 (5) p265-73


Streptozotocin-diabetic and non-diabetic rats were given vanadyl sulphate in drinking water at concentrations of 0.5-1.5 mg/ml for one year. It was found that vanadyl treatment did not produce persistent changes in plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and urea, specific morphological abnormalities in the brain, thymus, heart, lung, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, adrenal, or testis, or abnormal organ weight/body weight ratio for these organs in either non-diabetic or diabetic animals. Treatment significantly reduced the incidence of the occurrence of urinary stones in non-diabetic rats. In diabetic animals vanadyl treatment significantly reduced the mortality rate and prevented the elevation of plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and urea, the increases in organ size, and the occurrence of megacolon but did not affect the development of renal and testicular tumours. Plasma and tissue concentrations of vanadium were determined and found to have the following order of distribution: bone > kidney > testis > liver > pancreas > plasma > brain. Vanadium was retained in these organs at 16 weeks following vanadyl withdrawal while the plasma levels were beneath detection limits. It is concluded that vanadyl sulphate at antidiabetic doses is not significantly toxic to rats following a one-year administration in drinking water, but vanadium may be retained in various organs for months after cessation of treatment.

[CognitiveNutrition]

Vanadium

Vanadium is most appropriately named after the Scandinavian goddess of beauty, youth and luster. Good food sources of vanadium include black pepper, dill, parsley, mushrooms and shellfish, although up to 90% of vanadium consumed this way is not absorbed. Recent research on vanadium has focused on its role in improving or mimicking insulin action. Vanadyl sulfate is a particularly biologically significant form of vanadium and has a positive effect on glucose tolerance, cholesterol levels, bones and teeth. Vanadyl Sulfate is used commonly by diabetics and bodybuilders because of its ability to mimic insulin. One very significant study utilizing vanadyl sulfate involved the treatment of six non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients who controlled their conditions with either diet alone or glucose-lowering drugs. For the first two weeks of the testing phase, the subjects received a placebo (non active material); the next three weeks all subjects received 100 mg of vanadyl sulfate; the last two weeks the subjects were given the placebo again. In all subjects, the baseline levels of blood glucose at the first two weeks were elevated. At the end of the three week period utilizing vanadyl sulfate, the blood glucose levels had decreased by 10% and the effects continued into the next two weeks. The researchers concluded that vanadyl sulfate is able to improve hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant NIDDM humans after only three weeks.

While there is no RDA for vanadium, which in most cases is used to maintain good health, an amount much lower than 100 mg is sufficient. Only Trace Minerals contains 7.5 mg of vanadium in the form of vanadyl sulfate. In fact, some researchers consider doses between 23 mg to 100 mg to be excessive and possibly toxic, unless in the treatment of particular disease states, like diabetes, and under a doctor's supervision.

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/Ms...N%20VANADYL%20

[NO HYPE]

In humans, the threshold level for vanadium toxicity is near 10 (to 20)mg/day. Schroeder et al. (109) administered 4.5 and 9 mg V/day for 6 to 16 months without apparent detrimental effects; Curran et al. (33) supplemented 13.5 mg V/day for 6 weeks, with no sign of intolerance toxicity being found. On the other hand, Somerville and Davies (116) gave 13.5 mg V/day for 5 months. 40% of the patients exhibited gastrointestinal disturbances and 40% exhibited green tongues. After intakes of 4.5 to 18 mg V/day over 6 to 10 weeks, the patients developed green tongues, cramps and diarrhoea (37, 19).

In animals and humans, vanadium generally causes pulmonary effects of acute vanadium pentoxide inhalation (73, 126), haematological changes following vanadium exposure (72), and a lowered cysteine content in hair and nails (122). The coenzyme A content of the organs is decreased after feeding high doses of vanadium. One of the compounds involved in the synthesis of coenzyme A is thioethanolamine, which is derived from cysteine by decarboxylation. Therefore, a decrease in cystine caused by vanadium was presumably the reason for reduced amounts of coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is involved in the synthesis of cholesterol, and therefore may affect the occurrence of atherosclerosis.

http://www.ranf.com/pdf/anales/2004/0406.pdf

[NO HYPE]

"It is retained in highest amounts in the kidney, liver, testes, bone, and spleen."

"Most of the excessive retained (exogenous) vanadium is deposited in bone."

"Na K-ATPases, Mg-ATPase and myosin-ATPase, which are inhibited by vanadium. Vanadate's close resemblance to phosphate enables it to inhibit many of the enzymes involved in phosphate metabolism and in phosphorylation and dephosphorylation." (52)



8. Toxicity

Vanadium is relatively toxic. The threshold for toxicity apparently is near 10-20 mg/day or 10-20-ug/g of diet in both animals and humans. (48) A variety of signs of vanadium toxicity exist because they vary with species and dosage. Consistently observed toxic effects include depressed growth, elevated organ vanadium, diarrhea, and cramps were were observed in humans given 13.5 mg for 2 months followed by 22.5 mg for 5 months. In another study, signs of toxicity were observed on intakes of 4.5-18 mg vanadium/day in the form of vanadyl sulfate.(55)

Recent studies in experimental animals suggest that several toxic effects may occur.

* Significant reduction in general activity and learning in rats. (62)

* Vanadate (V+5) and Vanadyl (V+4) may be reproductive and developmental toxins in mammals. (49)

* Hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity have also been observed. Vanadium, like some other metals, tends to accumulate in the kidney, often leading to nephrotoxicity. The effects observed in rats include hypokalemic distal renal tubular acidosis, enhanced renal peroxidation, increased urinary excretion of solutes and water, inhibition of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and organic ion accumulation, natriuresis, diuresis, and vasoconstriction.

2007 CRC Press - Handbook of Nutrition in the Aged, Third Edition. Ronald R. Watson

[NO HYPE]

First statement =

I'd like to see some justification for it being included in our supplements in the first place.


First reply =

Study 1: Oral vanadyl sulfate improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM but not in obese nondiabetic subjects.

Study 2 Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.




Second statement = How does that justify it's inclusion in our supplements?

Second reply = Who said it does?

[NO HYPE]

Direct from BB

Vanadyl Sulfate Info And Products
Insulin Mimicking Mineral

1. What is it and where does it come from?

Vanadyl sulfate, one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements, is derived from trace mineral vanadium. Bodybuilding.com carries the highest quality vanadyl sulfate available!


2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?

Athletes have long used vanadyl sulfate to increase their performance. It is believed to play a role in helping to regulate the body's healthy blood sugar levels, similar to insulin. Studies show that vanadyl sulfate mainly helps the muscle cells uptake glucose (instead of fat cells (adipocytes) uptaking glucose). Basically, by mimicking the actions of insulin, vanadyl sulfate forces more proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates directly into muscles. Vanadyl sulfate is an awesome, popular supplement that seems to work for building better muscles; nevertheless, the scientific jury is still deliberating.

[ Top 5 Sellers ]
1. Angel Sports Nutrition Extreme Drive Power Formula
2. Eclipse 2000 Vanadyl Sulfate
3. Ultimate Nutrition Vanadyl Sulfate
4. Performance Research Vertex
5. Dymatize NOV



3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?

Bodybuilders find vanadyl sulfate especially effective because of the fullness it gives their muscles. Weight lifters and bodybuilders take vanadyl to increase their results while working out and because they experience greater pumps and vascularity. Symptoms of deficiency are not associated with vanadyl sulfate.


4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?

The recommended dosage is between 30 and 50 mg per day with meals in divided doses. Supplementing with vanadyl sulfate is safe and effective when taken in the recommended amounts. As with most trace minerals, over supplementing may be toxic, so don't take too much!

Republished from Clayton South's Health Facts.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/van.html

I wonder why I did not notice any of the following IMPORTANT FACTS mentioned in that article?

I suppose it's possible, that the toxicity of vanadium associated with low dosages in humans, was a fact that was overlooked.... but it will not be overlooked any longer.

"High doses of vanadium (anything over 15 mg/day) may cause liver and/or kidney damage."


"No more than 1.8 mg/day should be used in people. Some manufacturers promote high dosages (15 to 100 mg) of vanadyl sulfate per day, but studies do not support such dosages, and they may be toxic."


Warning! Causes digestive and respiratory tract irritation. May cause liver and kidney damage.


Target Organs: Kidneys, liver, respiratory system, eyes, skin.


Ingestion: May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and possible burns. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause central nervous system effects and/or neurological effects. May cause greenish-black tongue discoloration due to deposition of vanadium salts. Ingestion of large amounts may cause an increase in blood pressure.


Eye: May cause eye irritation and possible damage.


Skin: Contact with skin causes irritation and possible burns, especially if the skin is wet or moist. Contact with the skin may cause skin lesions which are characterized by cracking of the skin and the development of slow-healing ulcers.


"Somerville and Davies (116) gave 13.5 mg V/day for 5 months. 40% of the patients exhibited gastrointestinal disturbances and 40% exhibited green tongues. After intakes of 4.5 to 18 mg V/day over 6 to 10 weeks, the patients developed green tongues, cramps and diarrhea" (37, 19).


"Consistently observed toxic effects include depressed growth, elevated organ vanadium, diarrhea, and cramps were were observed in humans given 13.5 mg for 2 months followed by 22.5 mg for 5 months. In another study, signs of toxicity were observed on intakes of 4.5-18 mg vanadium/day in the form of vanadyl sulfate."(55)

"Hepatoxicity and nephrotoxicity have also been observed. Vanadium, like some other metals, tends to accumulate in the kidney, often leading to nephrotoxicity. The effects observed in rats include hypokalemic distal renal tubular acidosis, enhanced renal peroxidation, increased urinary excretion of solutes and water, inhibition of Na+ -K+ -ATPase and organic ion accumulation, natriuresis, diuresis, and vasoconstriction."

[NO HYPE]

Most people probably have enough in their diet. I don't see much reason for anyone to take it.

That statement should be printed on the labels of all vanadyl products.... if it did not defeat the entire purpose of selling it?

[NO HYPE]

Ingestion: May cause severe gastrointestinal tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and possible burns. May cause liver and kidney damage. May cause central nervous system effects and/or neurological effects. May cause greenish-black tongue discoloration due to deposition of vanadium salts. Ingestion of large amounts may cause an increase in blood pressure.

May being the key word.

Yeah, I mean.... what are the chances right?

I myself have experienced toxicity off this mineral. I was using ON VS5000, and after following the directions began experiencing flu and depression-like symptoms. One of my friends had his tongue turn blue after 3 months on this crap.

The title is a tad melodramatic.

Is it?

[leonidas300]

Toxicity studies on one-year treatment of non-diabetic and treptozotocin-diabetic rats with vanadyl sulphate.

It is concluded that vanadyl sulphate at antidiabetic doses is not significantly toxic to rats following a one-year administration in drinking water, but vanadium may be retained in various organs for months after cessation of treatment.

Wow more rat studies. Diabetic rats even. Seriously post a human study regarding toxicity or just stop posting, this is just getting silly.

[cxm]

I remember some people using vanadyl for teh pump effect, this ingredient was pushed heavily during the Bill Phillips EAS era.

Lok7y who is an extremely bright member, he mentioned the toxicity of vanadyl several times, I miss his insight and posts.

It's toxic if you use it at the effective dosage (30-40mg/meal) for very long, but, with that said, if you're using it on an infrequent basis to speed yourself into ketosis or as part of a glycogen-load, it's quite a good supplement.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is the pathway vanadyl seems to exploit, is a very important mediator of leptin signaling & insulin memisis.

Originally Posted by 391rippy
do a search, you'll find plenty. the sparknotes of what i've read is that it is effective at high dosages, but it builds up in your body and can be toxic. i would suggest taking r-ALA instead. they basically have the same effect, but the r-ALA is much safer.

Not exactly. Vanadyl augments insulin-dependent glucose disposal. ALA works outside of the insulin cascade. I do agree with you that ALA is much safer, it's just that they don't do nearly the same things.

Vanadyl is a pretty good supplement if used infrequently at high dosages during periods where your carb-intake is really high.

Nothing miraculous, but it definitely makes a difference.

Definitely is toxic however, which is kind of a downer.

[Bane]

We've been defacing this stuff from the days Big Cat roamed the boards(those were some interesting days!). And yes it's still sold.
Why?
Cause people will buy it, the same way as they'll buy liquid creatine, guggulsterones, homeopathetic HGH, e.t.c. e.t.c. e.t.c.
Truth is very few do their homework these days(and there is no cure for stupidity ofc)

[NO HYPE]

Toxicity studies on one-year treatment of non-diabetic and treptozotocin-diabetic rats with vanadyl sulphate.

Wow more rat studies. Diabetic rats even. Seriously post a human study regarding toxicity or just stop posting, this is just getting silly.

It's cool.... there are enough rat studies that reveal vanadium's toxicity as well.



Mol Cell Biochem. 2007 Dec;306(1-2):189-200. Epub 2007 Aug 1. Links

Amelioration of vanadium-induced testicular toxicity and adrenocortical hyperactivity by vitamin E acetate in rats.

Vanadium toxicity is a challenging problem to the health professionals and a cutting-edge medical problem. Vanadium has been recognized as industrial hazards that adversely affect human and animal reproductive health. Since testicular function is exquisitely susceptible to reactive-oxygen species, the present study elucidates the possible involvement of oxidative stress in vanadium-induced testicular toxicity and the prophylactic effects of vitamin E acetate against such adverse effects of vanadium. The study also characterizes the effects of vanadium on rat adrenal steroidogenesis and determines the underlying mechanisms of testicular and adrenal interactions in response to vanadium exposure. Significantly reduced sperm count associated with decreased serum testosterone and gonadotropins level in the vanadium-injected group of rats compared to control substantially proves the ongoing damaging effects of vanadium-induced ROS on developing germ cells. This is in turn reflected in the appreciable increase in testicular lipid peroxidation level and decline in the activities of steroidogenic and antioxidant enzymes. However, oral administration of vitamin E acetate could protect testes from the toxic effects of vanadium. Vanadium also results in adrenocortical hyperactivity, as evidenced by the elevated secretion of glucocorticoids, adrenal gland hypertrophy and increased activity of adrenal Delta(5)3beta-HSD. However, reversibility of these alterations in adrenocortical activities was vividly reflected after vitamin E acetate supplementation. All these studies reveal that oxidative stress is the major mechanism of health deterioration and that vanadium can act as a stressor metal causing chronic stress effects through excitation of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. However antioxidant support by vitamin E acetate may provide significant protection.

[NO HYPE]

Vanadyl sulfate VOSO4, also called vanadium(IV) sulfate oxide hydrate, is used as a relatively controversial dietary supplement, primarily for increasing insulin sensitivity and body-building. Whether it works for the latter purpose has not been proven, and there is some evidence that athletes who take it are merely experiencing a placebo effect.


Toxicity of vanadium compounds

The toxicity of vanadium depends on its physico-chemical state; particularly on its valence state and solubility. Tetravalent VOSO4 has been reported to be more than 5 times as toxic as trivalent V2O3 (Roschin, 1967). Vanadium compounds are poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal system. Inhalation exposures to vanadium and vanadium compounds result primarily in adverse effects to the respiratory system (Sax, 1984; ATSDR, 1990; Ress et al., 2003; Worle-Knirsch et al., 2007). Quantitative data are, however, insufficient to derive a subchronic or chronic inhalation reference dose. Other effects have been reported on blood parameters after oral or inhalation exposures (Scibior et al., 2006; Gonzalez-Villalva et al., 2006), on liver (Kobayashi et al., 2006), neurological development in rats (Soaso and Garcia, 2007), and other organs. Vanadium

[NO HYPE]

Vanadyl sulfate administration protects the streptozotocin-induced oxidative damage to brain tissue in rats.

Diabetes mellitus manifests itself in a wide variety of complications and the symptoms of the disease are multifactorial. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of vanadyl sulfate on biochemical parameters, enzyme activities and brain lipid peroxidation, glutathione and nonenzymatic glycosylation of normal- and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Streptozotocin (STZ) was administered as a single dose (65 mg/kg) to induce diabetes. A dose of 100 mg/kg vanadyl sulfate was orally administered daily to STZ-diabetic and normal rats, separately until the end of the experiment, at day 60. In STZ-diabetic group, blood glucose, serum sialic and uric acid levels, serum catalase (CAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, brain lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nonenzymatic glycosylation (NEG) increased, while brain glutathione (GSH) level and body weight decreased. In the diabetic group given vanadyl sulfate, blood glucose, serum sialic and uric acid levels, serum CAT and LDH activities and brain LPO and NEG levels decreased, but brain GSH and body weight increased. The present study showed that vanadyl sulfate exerted antioxidant effects and consequently may prevent brain damage caused by streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

there are enough rat studies that reveal vanadium's toxicity as well.

Reproductive Toxicity of Vanadyl Sulphate in Male Rats

The reproductive functions were evaluated by epididymal sperm counts, motility, fertility rate, reproductive organ weights, biochemistry and histological examination of testes in vanadyl sulphate treated adult male Wistar rats. Oral administration of vanadyl sulphate (100mg/kg b.wt./day) for 60 days caused a decrease (p < 0.05) in the weights of testes and accessory reproductive organs. Cauda epididymal sperm analysis exhibited a significant decline in the number (p < 0.01) and motility (p < 0.001). Atrophy of seminiferous tubules was observed in histopathological examination. The diameter of seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells nuclei were reduced. Biochemical analysis of marker parameters indicated alteration in biochemical milieu of the genital organs. The mating tests with untreated females revealed a decrease in pregnancy rate and mean number of the pups delivered. As such present investigation indicate an adverse effect of vanadyl sulphate on male reproductive functions. (Author abst.)

http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/articl...07A0135011.php

[NO HYPE]

Vanadium treatment of diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats results in tissue vanadium accumulation and pro-oxidant effects.

The effect of sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) consumption on trace element metabolism, components of the antioxidant defense system and lipid oxidative damage were studied in control (CON) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (DIAB) rats. Ten days after injection, CON and DIAB rats received either 0 mM NaVO3/80 mM NaCl (0 group) or 1.2 mM NaVO3/80 mM NaCl (1.2V group) in their drinking water. DIAB groups had higher food and fluid intakes than the CON groups; vanadium (V) groups had lower food and fluid intakes than the saline groups. Vanadium therapy lowered plasma glucose concentrations of DIAB rats. The following parameters were similar among the groups: plasma Zn, Cu and Fe concentrations, plasma ceruloplasmin activity, liver Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe concentrations, kidney Mn and Fe concentrations, liver non-Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSH-Red) and Mn-SOD activities, liver reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations and kidney non-Se-dependent GSH-Px activity. Kidney Zn and Cu concentrations were higher in DIAB rats than in CON rats. The CON-1.2V and DIAB-1.2V groups had V accumulation in the liver and kidney. Liver CuZn-SOD and Se-dependent GSH-Px and kidney CuZn-SOD and GSH-Red activities were lower in DIAB rats compared to CON rats; kidney Mn-SOD and kidney Se-dependent GSH-Px activities were higher in DIAB rats than CON rats. Vanadium treatment did not cause significant alterations in the antioxidant defense system; however, tissue vanadium concentrations were positively correlated to TBARS production. These results show that diabetes caused significant alterations in the antioxidant defense system and that V therapy was associated with a marked deterioration in health of both control and diabetic rats.

http://grande.nal.usda.gov/ibids/ind...&therow=542202

[NO HYPE]

Effects of Vanadium upon Liver Coenzyme A in Rats

THE addition of vanadium to liver sections of normal animals can prevent the synthesis of cholesterol from both mevalonic acid and acetate-1. Diets containing vanadyl sulphate do not, however, alter the cholesterol-levels in the serum or liver after being administered for six weeks to rabbits fed on high-cholesterol diets, though they considerably reduce the cholesterol concentration in the aorta and appreciably lower the capacity of the liver to synthesize cholesterol-1,2.

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1959Natur.183.1527M


1. J Biol Chem. 1954 Oct;210(2):765-70. Links
Effect of certain transition group elements on hepatic synthesis of cholesterol in the rat.CURRAN GL.

2. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1956 Jul;92(3):582-7.Links
Effect of ingested vanadium on cholesterol and phospholipid metabolism in the rabbit.MOUNTAIN JT, STOCKELL FR Jr, STOKINGER HE.




Intracellular Thioctic Acid and Coenzyme A following Vanadium Treatment

IT was suggested in a previous communication1 that the fall in coenzyme A liver concentrations in animals treated with vanadium might be due, at least partially, to a reduction in the number of -SH groups available. This hypothesis was based on the following facts: (1) The toxic effects of vanadium may, to a great extent, be attributed to modifications in reactions connected with sulphur compounds, especially those of the thiolic type-2. (2) The lack of -SH groups, and particularly of sulphurated amino-acids, lowers the coenzyme A content in the liver-3; in this case, a fall in thioctic acid, the connexion of which with coenzyme A is well-known, also occurs in the tissues-4. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal...1841641a0.html


2. Studies in vanadium toxicology. Reduction in the cystine content of rat hair
Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Medicine (1953), 8, 406-11 CODEN: AIHOAX; ISSN: 0376-1096.

3. J Nutr. 1955 Jul 11;56(3):431-5.
A biochemical basis for the interrelationship of pantothenic acid and methionine.DINNING JS, NEATROUR R, DAY PL.

4. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1952 Jan;79(1):34-7.
Hepatic fibrosis produced by chronic ethionine feeding.KOCH WESER D, POPPER H.

[NO HYPE]

Experientia. 1996 Aug 15;52(8):778-85.

Induction of vanadium accumulation and nuclear sequestration causing cell suicide in human Chang liver cells.

Very little is known about the modulation of vanadium accumulation in cells, although this ultratrace element has long been seen as an essential nutrient in lower life forms, but not necessarily in humans where factors modulating cellular uptake of vanadium seem unclear. Using nuclear microscopy, which is capable of the direct evaluation of free and bound (total) elemental concentrations of single cells we show here that an NH4Cl acidification prepulse causes distinctive accumulation of vanadium (free and bound) in human Chang liver cells, concentrating particularly in the nucleus. Vanadium loaded with acidification but leaked away with realkalinization, suggests proton-dependent loading. Vanadyl(4), the oxidative state of intracellular vanadium ions, is known to be a potent source of hydroxyl free radicals (OH). The high oxidative state of nuclei after induction of vanadyl(4) loading was shown by the redox indicator methylene blue, suggesting direct oxidative damage to nuclear DNA. Flow cytometric evaluation of cell cycle phase-specific DNA composition showed degradation of both 2N and 4N DNA phases in G1, S and G2/M cell cycle profiles to a solitary IN DNA peak, in a dose-dependent manner, effective from micromolar vanadyl(4) levels. This trend was reproduced with microccocal nuclease digestion in a time response, supporting the notion of DNA fragmentation effects. Several other approaches confirmed fragmentation occurring in virtually all cells after 4mM V(4) loading. Ultrastructural profiles showed various stages of auto****ic autodigestion and well defined plasma membrane outlines, consistent with programmed cell death but not with necrotic cell death. Direct intranuclear oxidative damage seemed associated with the induction of mass suicide in these human Chang liver cells following vanadium loading and nuclear sequestration.

[NO HYPE]

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2002 Aug;88(2):97-112.

Vanadium and tungsten derivatives as antidiabetic agents: a review of their toxic effects.

Tungstate is an oxyanion that has biological similarities to vanadate. In recent years, a number of studies have shown the antidiabetic effects of oral tungstate in animal models of diabetes. However, because of the tissue accumulation and potential toxicity derived from chronic administration of vanadium and tungsten compounds, the pharmacological use of vanadate or tungstate in the treatment of diabetes is not necessarily exempt from concern. In the context of a potential use in the treatment of human diabetes mellitus, the most relevant toxic effects of vanadium derivatives are reviewed and compared with those reported for tungsten. Hematological and biochemical alterations, loss of body weight, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and behavioral toxicity have been reported to occur following exposure to vanadium compounds. Moreover, vanadium also has a mitogenic activity affecting the distribution of chromosomes during mitosis and inducing aneuploidy-related end points. In contrast to vanadate, studies about the toxic effects of tungstate are very scant. Early investigations in cats, rabbits, dogs, mice, and rats showed that tungstate was less toxic than vanadate when given intravenously. Although in vitro investigations showed a direct effect of tungstate on the embryo and fetus of mice at concentrations similar to those causing effects in vivo, information on the potential cellular toxicity of tungstate is particularly scarce. Taking into account the recent interest of tungstate as a new potential oral antidiabetic agent, an exhaustive evaluation of its toxicity in mammals is clearly necessary.

[DRP7]

Human studies showing no toxic effects and animal studies showing neuroprotective effects are solid data. I think this is abit above your understanding.

you should be cautious when interpreting study results. first of all, they applied 100 mg/kg of vanadium to the rodents in this study: 100 mg/kg! that would be appr. 7.000 -10.000 mg in an average human individual. per day!
secondly, they have not examined the neuronal viability / functionality, so we cannot really say whether the brains of the animanls that received vanadium were still working after the treatment or not.

one should be aware of the fact that they produced diabetes animals: without any glucose control! an unsleahed, full-blown diabetes is a source of extreme oxidative damage (+ AGE - advanced glycation endproducts). they (ab)used ultra-high doses of vanadium in order to replace insulin action in the body. it is absolutely no surprise that you will ameliorate a few of the consequences of diabetes when you apply a treatment that partially displays similar action as insulin.

however, this finding has ZERO merit in humans because of the following reasons:

1. in humans there are other, much better (= more effective, less toxic) options than high-dose vanadium for the treatment of diabetes
2. you would need ultra-toxic doses of vanadium in order to achieve such effects
3. this thread does not even deal with diabetic individuals but with healthy people who don't have unleashed blood glucose levels and extreme oxidative stress caused by uncontrolled diabetes.

let me illustrate what merit this study actually has:
if I would do a study by throwing an atomic bomb onto some viruses that cause the common cold, and I would find that all viruses got killed: what merit would an atomic bomb have for the treatment of the common cold? do you really believe that you would find a little "pocket-bomb" the next day in your local pharmacy or drug store: "the new eradication therapy for viruses"?

no way!

[DRP7]

... I think this is abit above your understanding.

[irony]well, you have demonstrated that you are surely the right person to make such judgements. [/irony]

[NO HYPE]

let me illustrate what merit this study actually has:

if I would do a study by throwing an atomic bomb onto some viruses that cause the common cold, and I would find that all viruses got killed: what merit would an atomic bomb have for the treatment of the common cold? do you really believe that you would find a little "pocket-bomb" the next day in your local pharmacy or drug store: "the new eradication therapy for viruses"?

There would likely be long lines at the drug store, if there were such a thing.

[NO HYPE]

..

1. in humans there are other, much better (= more effective, less toxic) options than high-dose vanadium for the treatment of diabetes

2. you would need ultra-toxic doses of vanadium in order to achieve such effects

My own patient feedback has not been favorable to vanadium supplementation so far for diabetes. Instead of reducing insulin requirements, blood sugar had gone up following vanadium supplementation!