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Dr. Grey AI

Supplement

Vanadium

Vanadium is a trace mineral found in small amounts in food and water, and in lab work it can mimic some of insulin's actions in cells. People mostly look at it for blood sugar control in obesity, but two small studies with 44 participants found no clear difference, and the evidence is very limited. Even smaller studies of HDL cholesterol and blood pressure also found no clear difference, involving only 14 and 6 people.

Sources: PMID 19033682; PMID 8621019

Best evidence
Grade D
Conditions studied
4
Outcomes
18
Graded outcomes
0004

Evidence by condition

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

4 conditions

Obesity

Obesity: outcomes studied for Vanadium
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Glycemic Control

No effect

NoneNo effect2 studies44 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

No effect

NoneNo effect14 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)14 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)14 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)14 people

Overweight

Overweight: outcomes studied for Vanadium
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Glycemic Control

No effect

NoneNo effect2 studies14 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)14 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)14 people
Total cholesterolImproves (the measure goes down)14 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)14 people

Type 2 Diabetes

  • Blood Pressure
  • Glycemic Control: improves
  • Glycogen Resynthesis: improves
Type 2 Diabetes: outcomes studied for Vanadium
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Blood Pressure

No effect

NoneNo effect6 people
Glycemic ControlImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies6 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

Glycogen ResynthesisImproves (the measure goes up)1 study6 people

Studies that measured glycogen resynthesis

HbA1cImproves (the measure goes down)6 people
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves (the measure goes up)6 people
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves (the measure goes down)6 people
TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)6 people

Metabolic Health

  • Glycemic Control: improves
Metabolic Health: outcomes studied for Vanadium
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Glycemic ControlImproves (the measure goes up)2 studies30 people

Studies that measured glycemic control

Key findings

  • Glycemic ControlObesity
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Obesity
  • Blood PressureType 2 Diabetes

Shop Vanadium

Third-party tested Vanadium products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.

  • Grade D

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Studies cited

3 studies from PubMed

  1. Effect of vanadium on insulin sensitivity in patients with impaired glucose toleranceAnn Nutr Metab · PMID 19033682
  2. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves insulin sensitivity in NIDDM but not in obese nondiabetic subjectsDiabetes · PMID 8621019
  3. Oral vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitusJ Clin Invest · PMID 7769096