Vanadium

Sources:

Mushrooms, shellfish, black pepper, parsley, dill seed, beer, wine, grains, sweeteners, infant cereals.

Fossil fuels, welding, catalysts, steel alloys, batteries, photographic developer, drying agent in paints/varnishes, reducing agent, pesticides, black dyes/inks/pigments in ceramics, printing and textile industries.

Absorption factors:

The absorption of V is <5% and most ingested V is found in the stool.

V is transported mainly in the plasma. It is found in large amounts in the blood initially and at trace levels 2 days after exposure.

V has a half-life of around 10 days. Body clearance occurs directly via urinary excretion.

Biochemical actions:

Vanadium mimics insulin and has been used as a supplement for diabetic patients. V stimulates cell proliferation and differentiation. The highest concentrations are found in the liver, kidney and bone.

V is studied in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, and diseases caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria, and for anti-thrombotic, anti-hypertensive, anti-atherosclerotic, and spermicidal properties.

Vanadium-induced cytotoxicity can be mitigated by glutathione, ascorbic acid, or NADH to convert oxidized vanadium (5+) into its reduced (4+) form.

Symptoms of imbalance:

Acute toxicity is rare. V exposure is through ingestion or inhalation. Vanadium may cause abdominal cramps, loose stools, green tongue, fatigue, lethargy, focal neurological issues. Animal studies show renal toxicity with high doses.Urinary vanadium concentrations during pregnancy were associated with preterm delivery and impaired fetal growth. Cardiovascular and respiratory symptoms may be present.

Resources:

Institute of Medicine Panel on M. In: Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US)

Fatola OI, Olaolorun FA, Olopade FE, Olopade JO. Trends in vanadium neurotoxicity. Brain Res Bull. 2019;145:75-80.

Trevinno S, Diiaz A, Sanchez-Lara E, Sanchez-Gaytan BL, Perez-Aguilar JM, Gonzalez-Vergara E. Vanadium in Biological Action: Chemical, Pharmacological Aspects, and Metabolic Implications in Diabetes Mellitus. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019;188(1):68-98.

ATSDR. ToxGuide for Vanadium. 2012; https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-58.pdf, 2020.

Zwolak I. Protective Effects of Dietary Antioxidants against Vanadium-Induced Toxicity: A Review. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020;2020:1490316.