Vanadium may help balance blood glucose levels but its direct fat burning capacity is unconvincing

The chemical element V, vanadium is a gray metal found in a variety of minerals, fossil deposits, and animals. It is purported to impart favorable health benefits for heart conditions and diabetes, and may assist fat burning by:

• Helping with blood glucose. Vanadium in small doses may play a role in weight loss by reducing sugar levels in the blood.
• Reducing sugar absorption. The element, V, deters sugar away from intestinal absorption and toward muscles for use as energy.
• Increasing satiety. Consuming vanadium may make you feel more full.

Overview

Vanadium is a trace metal found in some minerals and fossil fuel deposits, and also produced as the byproduct of steel or uranium mining. It is also present in foods such as mushrooms, seafood, soybeans, cereals, corn, and olive oil, just to cite a few. Drinking water also contains small amounts of vanadium depending on its source.

Alternative and complementary medicine has long boasted of vanadium’s usefulness for reducing elevated blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications, as well as promoting normal bone growth.

Contemporary medical practices have additionally been using vanadium to combat type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated obesity.¹ Subsequently, recent studies have led some to believe that vanadium may be able to help burn fat.

How Vanadium May Help With Fat Burning

Reducing blood glucose levels

Vanadium has been recorded as reducing plasma glucose levels during periods of fasting as well as overall hepatic glucose production (HGP).³ These natural benefits appear to stem from an increased insulin sensitivity, especially prominent in cases of type-2 diabetes. Minimized glucose production combined with decreased available levels may cut back the amount of sugar the body is able to store as fat. On the other hand, increased glycogen synthesis has been identified in skeletal muscle, which suggests that more glucose is being converted to muscle mass and energy rather than being storing as fat cells.⁴

Facilitating glucose metabolism

Glucose metabolism was enhanced through the use of certain types of vanadium. Free vanadium ions activate glucose uptake and metabolism in adipocytes in order to lower blood glucose levels in states of hyperglycemia.⁵ Modifying glucose metabolism may, in the long run, prevent the cultivation of unwanted fat cells while also speeding up their demise.

Increasing satiety

Lower glucose levels were also noted as a result of reduced food intake when consuming vanadium in cases of diabetes.⁶ Vanadium supplementation may help with weight management by diminishing the desire to eat.

Vanadium Fat Burner Benefits & Uses

The vast majority of vanadium-related studies center on its role in the insulin-glucose pathway. Using vanadium to handle the symptoms of diabetes has actually been taking place in medical practices for over a century.⁷ Vanadium compounds take part in a long list of anti-diabetic activity in order to improve control over glucose levels, including⁸:

• inhibiting gluconeogenesis,
• stimulating glucose oxidation and transport,
• inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis,
• inhibiting intestinal glucose transport,
• and increasing glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle.

Taken together, these effects have positive implications in fat burning. While such results have been identified in type-2 diabetics, the unfortunate kicker is that they have yet to be significantly demonstrated beyond the realm of type-2 diabetes.

So what about Vanadium in those sports nutrition supplements designed to get you shredded, sliced and diced?

It’s hard to justify it in this role, although it is sometimes found in these products. In some of these supplements, it may appear in proprietary blends for blood sugar support, along with complementary nutritional factors like gymnema sylvestre. However, unless blood sugar is your focus, that capsule space may be better spent on fat burners or more direct pre workout nutrients.

Research

Animal Research

Research leans toward vanadium being a probable fat burner as indicated by its ability to:

• Promote weight loss. High concentrations of vanadium in the form of bis-maltolato-oxyvanadium (BMOV) prevented the rise of blood pressure in rats on a starch diet while also causing marked weight loss.¹⁰
• Trigger hypoglycemia. Vanadium was shown to be a productive hypoglycemic agent in cats while also mimicking insulin-like effects in diabetic rats.¹¹
• Metabolize adipocytes. Vanadyl complexes were observed to normalize hyperglycemia in streptozocin-induced type-1 diabetic rats by activating various metabolic effects in adipocytes.¹²

Human Research

Clinical studies display conflicting results in regards to vanadium’s usefulness as fat burner. Although glycemic control is demonstrated in type-2 diabetics, significant weight loss is not. One study involving weight training athletes even went so far as to highlight the lack of impact vanadium had.

Vanadium (as VOSO4, 150 mg) may improve glycemic control in type-2 diabetic adults

In this cohort investigation, 11 type-2 diabetic (T2DM) adults were given vanadium in the form of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) at 150 mg/day over the course of 6 weeks in order to measure glucose production. On average, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) decreased from 194 ± 16 to 155 ± 15 mg/dL. Reductions in FPG resulted in lowered endogenous glucose production (EGP) by 20%. Cholesterol and other sugar levels, such as that of fructosamine, also decreased.

• The study concluded that “VOSO4 treatment in T2DM patients improves glycemic control by reducing basal EGP and enhancing skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity.”¹³

Vanadium (as VOSO4, 150 mg) may increase glucose metabolism and lower glucose production in type-2 diabetics

In this investigation, 16 type-2 diabetic adults were examined after been given either 75 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg of vanadium per day over the course of a 6-week period. No significant effects were noted at the lowest dose. At both 150 mg and 300 mg of vanadium, glucose metabolism increased while base hepatic glucose production (HGP) and fasting glucose decreased. It is worthwhile to note that the higher doses caused some gastrointestinal distress.

• The study concluded that “glucose metabolism…improved in 3 of 5 subjects receiving 150 mg VOSO4 and 4 of 8 subjects receiving 300 mg VOSO4.”¹⁴

Vanadium (50 mg, twice daily) may reduce fasting plasma glucose in type-2 diabetics

In this placebo-controlled investigation, 8 type-2 diabetics were given vanadium at 50 mg twice a day for 4 weeks. There was a 20% decrease in fasting glucose levels (9.3 ± 1.8 to 7.4 ± 1.4 mmol/L) and a decrease in hepatic glucose output (HGO) during hyperinsulinemia.

• The study concluded that “VS at the dose used was well tolerated and resulted in modest reductions of fasting plasma glucose and hepatic insulin resistance.”¹⁵

Vanadium (0.5 mg) may have no significant effects on weight training athletes

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 31 weight training athletes were given vanadium at 0.5 mg per kg of body weight each day over the course of 12 weeks. There was no notable difference gained in physical performance between those taking vanadium and those on the placebo.

• The study concluded that “there were no treatment effects on haematological indices and biochemistry.”¹⁶

Continued clinical research on the use of vanadium as a fat burner might help clarify its position.

Dosage for Vanadium

Vanadium may be taken in several forms:

• As a supplemental capsule, ranging from 100 mcg – 1 mg
• As a form of insulin supplementation in type-2 diabetes, 100 mg
• Capsules are best taken 20 minutes before a meal, for no longer than a few months

References