Vanadium supplementation effect on vanadium metabolism during hypokinesia in rats

Microelement supplementation during Hypokinesia (HK; diminished movement) affects differently microelement metabolism from that of normal muscular activity. In view of the effect of trace element supplementation and HK upon microelement metabolism we investigated the effect of vanadium (V) supplements on tissue V content and V loss during HK.

Studies were performed on 240 male Wistar rats during a pre-experimental period of 9 days and an experimental period of 98 days. Rats were equally divided into four groups: unsupplemented control rats (UCR), unsupplemented experimental rats (UER), supplemented control rats (SCR) and supplemented experimental rats (SER). A daily supplementation of 0.8 μmol vanadium sulfate was given to the rats in the SCR and SER groups. Muscle V content, plasma V level and V loss was measured in the experimental and control groups of rats.

The gastrocnemius muscle and right femur bone V content decreased (p < 0.05), and plasma V level and urinary and fecal V loss increased (p < 0.05) in the SER and UER groups compared to their pre-experimental values and their respective control groups (SCR) and UCR). However, the tissue V content decreased more (p < 0.05) and plasma V level and V loss increased more (p < 0.05) in the SER group than in the UER group. The tissue V content and plasma V level and V loss did not change in the control groups of rats compared to the pre-experimental values.

It is concluded that during HK V supplementation decreases more tissue V content and increases more V loss and plasma V level in V deficient tissue indicating lower V utilization.