NutriStack
Insulin Glargine and Vanadium, a caution.
Vanadium salts have insulin-mimetic activity and small human studies in type 2 diabetes show improved insulin sensitivity and glucose-lowering effects. Insulin glargine provides basal insulin exposure, so adding vanadium may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, especially with reduced food intake, kidney disease, exercise changes, or other glucose-lowering drugs.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Insulin Glargine and Vanadium
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Emerging
- Source citations
- 3 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Emerging evidence
Caution
What is happening. Vanadium salts have insulin-mimetic activity and small human studies in type 2 diabetes show improved insulin sensitivity and glucose-lowering effects. Insulin glargine provides basal insulin exposure, so adding vanadium may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, especially with reduced food intake, kidney disease, exercise changes, or other glucose-lowering drugs.
Mechanism. Vanadium compounds can mimic or amplify insulin signaling and improve hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity. Insulin glargine independently lowers glucose through sustained insulin receptor activation, creating additive pharmacodynamic glucose-lowering potential.
Recommendation. Do not add vanadium to insulin glargine without diabetes-clinician guidance. If it is used, increase glucose monitoring when starting, stopping, or changing vanadium dose, and have a clear plan for treating low blood sugar. Seek urgent care for severe confusion, seizure, fainting, or inability to keep carbohydrates down.
Sources (3)
- Cusi K, Cukier S, DeFronzo RA, Torres M, Puchulu FM, Redondo JC. Vanadyl sulfate improves hepatic and muscle insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001;86(3):1410-1417. PMID 11238540
- Boden G, Chen X, Ruiz J, van Rossum GD, Turco S. Effects of vanadyl sulfate on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolism. 1996;45(9):1130-1135. PMID 8781301
- Amiel SA, Dixon T, Mann R, Jameson K. Hypoglycaemia in Type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2008;25(3):245-254. PMID 18215172
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Insulin Glargine and Vanadium are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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