Compound or practice · Supplement
Vanadium
An insulin-mimetic trace element that lowers glucose only at near-toxic doses — not a usable supplement.
- Overall grade
- Grade D
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
1 at grade D — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Glucose controlEvidence grade D
Only at toxic doses
Smalllow
What is uncertain
Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.
- Thin evidence: Glucose control (grade D).
The evidence in words
What it is
Vanadium is an ultra-trace element (as vanadyl sulfate) marketed for blood sugar and 'muscle pumps.'
How it works
It mimics insulin at the receptor level, but the doses needed for glucose effects approach the toxic range.
What the evidence shows
Glucose-lowering appears only at high, poorly-tolerated doses; bodybuilding 'pump' claims are unsupported. The narrow safety margin makes it a poor choice.
Safety & interactions
GI toxicity and possible organ effects at effective doses; avoid.
Bottom line
Works for glucose only at doses too high to be safe. Not a practical or advisable supplement.
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Vanadium for Glucose controlEvidence grade D — Only at toxic dosesEvidence grade D
- Vanadium: side effects, safety & interactionsGI toxicity and possible organ effects at effective doses; avoid.Evidence grade D
- ChromiumA perennial weight-loss and blood-sugar supplement whose effects, on honest review, round to noise.Evidence grade D
- Lithium (Low-Dose)A trace element sold at microdoses for mood — intriguing epidemiology, almost no supplement-dose trial data.Evidence grade D
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.