NUTRITIONAL FACTORS THAT THAT FAVORABLY INFLUENCE THE GLUCOSE INSULINSYSTEM - VANADIUM/

A growing body of experimental and clinical research indicates that th e trace element, vanadium, exerts potent insulin-mimetic effects in vi tro and in vivo when used in pharmacological doses. Since our first de monstration of the anti-diabetic and cardioprotective effects, of vana dium in vivo, impressive advances have been made in our understanding of its mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A m ajor advance in the use of vanadium as an insulin-mimetic has been the development of organic vanadium complexes which are 2 to 3 times as p otent as inorganic vanadium and have been extensively studied in our l aboratory. There is an emerging role for the use of vanadium in human diabetes and the recently conducted clinical trials support this conte ntion. The present review summarizes some of the key aspects of vanadi um biology which exemplify the potent insulin-mimetic, anti-diabetic a nd antihypertensive effects of this intriguing trace element. Key teac hing points: Vanadium is a Group V transition element that exists in m any oxidation states and is ubiquitous in nature A large body of in vi tro and in vivo evidence exists that demonstrate the potent insulin-mi metic actions of vanadium. Long-term vanadium treatment causes marked and sustained decreases in plasma glucose, triglyceride and cholestero l levels. Chronic treatment also ameliorates secondary complications o f diabetes including :cardiomyopathy, vascular hyperactivity and catar act formation. In an effort to improve bioavailability, we have synthe sized several organic vanadium compounds, noteworthy among which is bi s(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV) (BMOV). BMOV is 2 to 3 times more potent t han inorganic vanadium. Vanadium compounds exhibit antihypertensive ef fects via their ability to counter insulin resistance and attenuate hy perinsulinemia. The exact cellular mechanism of action of vanadium app ears to involve a combination of several post-receptor events in the i nsulin-signaling cascade. Recent clinical trials with vanadium have yi elded positive effects.