Elsevier

Toxicology Letters

Volume 150, Issue 2, 21 April 2004, Pages 135-143
Toxicology Letters

Review
Vanadium—an element of atypical biological significance

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2004.01.009Get rights and content

Abstract

The biological image of the transition element vanadium ferments a great deal of contradiction—from toxicity to essentiality. Importance of this element as micro-nutrient is yet to be unequivocally accepted by biologists and biomedical scientists. In spite of toxicity, it seems interesting to analyze the different biological roles of the element. Vanadium compounds have been proven to be associated with various implications in the pathogenesis of some human diseases and also in maintaining normal body functions. Salts of vanadium interfere with an essential array of enzymatic systems such as different ATPases, protein kinases, ribonucleases and phosphatases. While vanadium deficiency accounts for several physiological malfunctionings including thyroid, glucose and lipid metabolism, etc., several genes are regulated by this element or by its compounds, which include genes for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), activator protein-1 (AP-1), ras, c-raf-1, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), p53, nuclear factors—κB, etc. All these seem to be not far from its recognition as an element of pharmacological and nutritional significance, which is revealed through its increasing therapeutic uses in diabetes. Vanadium is also emerging as a potent anti-carcinogenic agent. This review summarizes the developments related to vanadium biology as a whole by analyzing the general biochemical functions of vanadium.

Introduction

Vanadium is a member of group VB of the periodic table. This named after the Norse goddess Vanadis, the goddess of beauty and fertility (Morinville et al., 1998). Andres Manuel Del Rio was the first chemist to provide the idea of this new element in 1801. But it was discovered by Nils Sefstrom, a Swedish chemist in 1830. Pure vanadium is a bright sliver-white, soft and ductile metal and 22nd most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Vanadium has become subject of interest amongst nutritionists since the discovery that various marine species have this metal as an essential element (Almedeida et al., 2001, Nriagu, 1998). Although most food contains low amount of vanadium (<1 ng/g), food is the major source of exposure to vanadium for general population (Barceloux, 1999). Many cereals, fishes, fresh fruits and vegetables contain this element more than 40 mg per gram of food. Foods rich in vanadium include mushrooms, shellfish, dill seed, parsley, black pepper, etc. (Barceloux, 1999, Badmaev et al., 1999). In most of these cases physiologically relevant forms of vanadium include vanadyl sulphate, sodium metavanadate, sodium orthovanadate and vanadium pentoxide.

During the last few decades, the facade of vanadium as a ‘slightly’ toxic and carcinogenic element eventually ratified to an essential trace element with anti−diabetic and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Section snippets

Absorption, distribution and excretion

Absorption, excretion and storage mechanisms of vanadium in living system are not thoroughly understood. Fig. 1 depicts a draft out-line of vanadium metabolism in higher animals. Several reports show that vanadium is poorly (only about 10%) absorbed from gastrointestinal tract (Nriagu, 1998, Poucheret et al., 1998). Report suggests that most of the ingested vanadium is transformed into the cationic vanadyl form in stomach before being absorbed in the duodenum through an unknown mechanism (

Vanadium and genetic modulation

Modulation of different genes by vanadium compounds has brought interest amongst biological scientists about this conspicuous element. Several genes are known to be activated by vanadium compounds. Levels of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 mRNA have been reported to be elevated accompanied by increased NF-κB binding activity in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells (Chong et al., 2000a). Induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), activator protein-1 (AP-1) gene

Conclusion

The dose differentiates a remedy or poison. The same is true for vanadium. There has been no definite evidence that vanadium deficiency reproducibly impairs biological function in humans. Though it has been pointed out that the element is a toxic agent and caution is to be taken during the supplementation. Still, vanadium showed some positive roles, especially in controlling the development of diseases like cancer and diabetes. The pool of scientific data favors the supplementation with a very

Acknowledgements

Research of this laboratory is funded by grants from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govternment of India, University Grants Commission (UGC), Govternment of India and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). P.B. is a recipient of Senior Research Fellowship awarded by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govternment of India.

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