Metals, toxins and medication
Vanadium
Vanadium in blood says something about exposure to vanadium; with work involving vanadium, urine is the more usual measure.
Everything about this testWhat it measures
The analysis measures how much vanadium is in your blood. Vanadium is a metal found in soil, in some iron ores and in crude oil, and is used to make steel stronger and more rust-resistant. It is released when fuel oil and coal are burned. Most people take in vanadium mainly through food, but the gut absorbs it poorly.
- Exposure to vanadium at work, for example in steel production or when burning fuel oil
- A high intake through vanadium supplements
High
A raised value fits recent exposure to vanadium, for example at work, or vanadium supplements. Tobacco smoke and seafood can also contribute. According to the ATSDR, breathing in a lot of vanadium pentoxide can damage the lungs, and some vanadium compounds can cause nausea, mild diarrhea and stomach cramps. According to the ATSDR, the measurement cannot predict whether harm will occur.
Low
A low or unmeasurable value is normal. There is no known vanadium deficiency in humans, so a low result does not call for supplementation.
If your result is abnormal
With a raised result, the GP looks for the source, such as work or supplements, together with the occupational physician if needed, and has the measurement repeated if needed.
Reliability
Vanadium in blood is mainly informative with known exposure; in people without known exposure, a single value says little. With work involving vanadium, vanadium in urine is the more usual measure. According to the ATSDR, the measurement can show exposure, but not whether this causes harm.
Limitations
- Vanadium supplements, such as vanadyl sulfate, raise the value.
- Contamination during the blood draw can raise the result.
- There are no agreed cutoff values; the limit between normal and raised comes from the laboratory itself.
How common is this
According to the RIVM, vanadium was present in building materials used in Drenthe to reinforce cycle paths; this vanadium causes no health risk for people who use the cycle paths. According to the ATSDR, most people take in vanadium mainly through food. There are no Dutch figures on exposure at work or on poisoning.
Who is this useful for
Useful with known exposure to vanadium at work, usually in consultation with the occupational physician. In people without symptoms and without known exposure, the measurement adds nothing.
Downsides and risks
- A slightly raised value without symptoms easily leads to worry and to unnecessary follow-up testing.
Sources
Always discuss an abnormal result with your GP. If a result is strongly abnormal, we try to reach you as soon as possible. Read your result yourself as well and contact your GP if in doubt. A test does not make a diagnosis. Read more about risks and results