Vanadyl sulfate, a vanadium salt sold as a dietary supplement, imitates part of insulin's signal inside cells and draws interest for blood-sugar control. Small, short studies without proper comparison groups saw lower blood sugar only in established type 2 diabetes; trials with a placebo comparison found no benefit in early blood-sugar problems or weight-training athletes. Stomach and bowel upset is common at those doses, far above the upper intake level. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting plasma glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Expected to change; hypoglycemia safety check |
| HbA1c | 4.0–5.6% | Expected to change |
| Total and LDL cholesterol | No established target; track change from own baseline | Expected to change |
| Triglycerides | No established target; track change from own baseline | Safety check: rise seen in prediabetes |
| HDL cholesterol | No established target; track change from own baseline | Safety check: fall seen at 300 mg/day |
| Serum creatinine and eGFR | Creatinine 0.7–1.3 mg/dL (men), 0.6–1.1 mg/dL (women) | Safety check: kidney is the target organ in animals |
| Hemoglobin and MCV | Hemoglobin 13.5–17.5 g/dL (men), 12.0–15.5 g/dL (women); MCV 80–100 fL | Safety check: small red cells in mice |
| ALT | 7–55 U/L | Safety check: liver is a vanadium storage site |
Cadence: Baseline before starting; fasting glucose self-checks daily for the first 2–3 weeks if insulin or sulfonylureas are used; lipids, creatinine, eGFR, blood count and ALT at 4–8 weeks; HbA1c at 12 weeks; then every 6–12 months during continued use