The in vivo glucose lowering effect of orally administered inorganic v
anadium compounds in diabetes was first reported in our laboratory in
1985. While both vanadate and vanadyl forms of vanadium are orally act
ive, they are still not well absorbed. We have synthesized several org
anic vanadium compounds and one compound, bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(lv
) or BMOV, has been extensively investigated. BMOV proved effective in
lowering plasma glucose and lipids in STZ-diabetic: rats when adminis
tered in drinking water over a 25 week period. The maintenance dose (0
.18 mmol/kg/day) was approximately 50% of that required for vanadyl su
lfate (VS). Secondary complications of diabetes were prevented by BMOV
and no marked toxicity was noted. Oral gavage of STZ-diabetic rats wi
th BMOV also reduced blood glucose levels. The ED(50) for BMOV was 0.5
mmol/kg, while for VS the estimated ED(50) was 0.9 mmol/kg. BMOV was
also effective by the intraperitoneal route in STZ-diabetic rats. The
ED(50) was 0.08 mmol/kg compared to 0.22 mmol/kg for VS. Some animals
treated p.o. or i.p. remained euglycemic for up to 14 weeks. An i.v. i
nfusion of BMOV of 0.05 mmol/kg over a 30 min period reduced plasma gl
ucose levels by 50% while VS was not effective.