Supplement · Minerals

Vanadium

A trace element marketed for blood sugar on weak evidence and with a toxicity concern.

Evidence
Unproven· human data
Sources cited
1
Last reviewed
22 July 2026

Vanadium is a trace element marketed for blood-sugar control and, at times, muscle. High doses can mimic some insulin effects in the lab, which is the basis for the claims.

In humans the evidence is weak, and the doses studied for glucose effects were high enough to cause gastrointestinal toxicity. There is no good case for supplementing it, and a real safety concern at meaningful doses.

Sources