Metabolic problems in northeastern Thailand: possible role of vanadium.

Common metabolic problems in northeastern Thailand include renal stone disease, distal renal tubular acidosis, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, sudden unexplained nocturnal death and malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus. There is evidence of decreased activity of Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase. A preliminary study was made of the vanadium concentration in the soil and water in northeastern Thailand. The urinary and tissue vanadium concentrations were also determined in the northeastern villagers. The soil was found to have high vanadium content. The vanadium content was also high in the urine, kidneys and lungs of the villagers. It is postulated that these metabolic problems are attributed to the inhibition of Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase activity by vanadium.