Vanadium
This little known mineral may actually be required for maintaining health, although no clear scientific proof of this exists at present. Bones and teeth may use vanadium as a building material. Vanadium also plays a role in blood sugar balance and cardiovascular function.
Key uses of vanadium:
- May help reduce the production of chblesterol.
- May help your body with sugar metabolism
- Sometimes recommended in some nutritional treatment programs for diabetics and those with cardiovascular disease.
Where you can find it: You can find vanadium in vegetable foods, when it is present in the soil in which they are grown. Vanadium is found in grains, as well as in carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, parsley, and other vegetable foods.
How much to take: No RDA for vanadium exists. The average person may consume 2-15 mg daily, and therapeutic levels are about 15-25 mg daily. Even higher amounts are sometimes used for diabetics (as much as 50-100 mg daily).
Too little or too much: Vanadium appears to be nontoxic, and the consequences of deficiency are unknown. Excesses of vanadium have been associated with manic depression.
