Nutritional Supplement Reviews by Real People Like You

According to scientific research as recent as August 1999, there is NO PROVEN EFFECT of vanadyl sulfate helping humans with diabetes. It has been shown through testing ON RATS to to mimic insulin, thereby decrease blood glucose levels. However, despite frequent testing, this HAS NOT proven true for humans. Moreover, there has, as yet been NO SAFE limits set by either researchers or the FDA.

The trace element vanadium is available, naturally, in microgram amounts in most foods, both plant and animal, and it is suspected that adequate amounts are gotten through daily food consumption. Also, it is a KNOWN toxin to lab animals, capable of disrupting numerous biological systems, and in fact, a deliberate deficient diet given to goats caused severe deformity and death in offspring. In humans, it has been shown, if in EXCESS (without any definitive amounts of what excess is) has caused disruption of brain chemistry (leading to manic depression), pulmonary inflammation, and inflammation of respiratory systems.

Scary? YES! It may be safe, it may not be, it may help diabetes, it may not. There has been NO EVIDENCE to show that it helps build lean mass in body builders OR alleviate diabetic symptoms. Personally, until SCIENCE (NOT promoters of goods for sale) finds CONCLUSIVE evidence as to its benefits, I answer your question as to why should you buy as YOU SHOULDN'T!!!! Just MY humble (though researched) opinion.

Hope this helps,
Copper
Certified Diet Counselor

Highlights from the 1997 meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

Could Vanadyl Sulfate Help Diabetic Patients? It has been known for some time that compounds that contain vanadium can have an affect on the blood sugar levels of animals and people. But could these compounds have a clinically useful effect in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetic patients? This study was based on the premise that vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4) has been shown to reduce hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in diabetes animal models, and vanadium salts have had insulin-like actions in vitro. In an attempt to learn more about the effects of one vanadium-containing compound, 12 patients with NIDDM were treated with 150 mg/day of vanadyl sulfate for 6 weeks. Five patients were controlled with diet only, and 7 were also given sulfonylurea drugs to help control their blood sugar levels. The doses of these drugs were kept constant during. Metabolic studies were performed following a 4-week run-in period, and following the 6 weeks of treatment with vanadyl sulfate. Caloric intake and physical activity remained constant throughout the study. Insulin secretion was measured by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and insulin sensitivity and plasma lipids were also measured.

Results of the study showed that treatment reduced fasting plasma glucose (191 +/-15 to 155 +/-11 mg/dL), HbA1c (8.2 +/-0.4 to 7.7 +/-0.4%), and fructosamine (359 +/-22 to 291 +/-15 mmol/L) levels, indicating control of high blood sugar levels. During the OGTT, mean plasma glucose decreased by 30 mg/dL and plasma insulin levels also decreased slightly. Glucose uptake in people who received insulin was increased by 22%, but was still less than in control. Basal hepatic glucose production declined significantly following treatment and total cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol also showed a significant decline.

The results of this study demonstrate the potential beneficial effects of vanadyl sulfate in the treatment of NIDDM. Vanadyl sulfate may be similar to phosphorus in that it affects the activity of many enzymes, thereby potentially causing widespread effects throughout the body. However, except for a few cases of transient mild diarrhea, the compound was well tolerated.

ADA-7112

As seen on PharmInfoNet (http://pharminfo.com). Copyright 1997 PIA Ltd. and VirSci Corporation.