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Is vanadium of human nutritional importance yet?
B F Harland1, B A Harden-Williams
1Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Vanadium, a trace element, shows potential essentiality for higher animals, as vanadium-deficient diets caused severe health issues in goats. Further research may confirm its essential role in human nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Trace element nutrition
- Biochemistry
- Animal physiology
Background:
- Vanadium has been studied for decades but lacks essential status in humans.
- It exists in multiple valence states, with tetravalent and pentavalent forms being most common.
- Pharmacologic doses in humans impact lipid metabolism, erythrocyte shape, and glucose metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential essentiality of vanadium in higher animals.
- To explore the effects of vanadium deficiency on animal health.
- To contribute to the understanding of vanadium's role in biological systems.
Main Methods:
- Formulation of carefully controlled vanadium-deficient diets for animal models.
- Observation and documentation of health outcomes in second-generation offspring.
- Analysis of vanadium levels in various food supplies and regional diets.
Main Results:
- Second-generation goat kids from mothers on vanadium-deficient diets exhibited skeletal damage.
- These goat kids died within 3 days of parturition, indicating severe deficiency effects.
- Vanadium is ubiquitous but present in trace amounts, making accurate measurement challenging.
Conclusions:
- Vanadium deficiency leads to critical health consequences in higher animals, suggesting essentiality.
- New data may soon support the essentiality of vanadium for human beings.
- Understanding vanadium's role as a cofactor in enzyme activity is crucial.