Animals deprived of arsenic have decreased methionine in their plasma and a decreased liver content of S adenosylmethionine, a very important metabolite of methionine. Animals fed diets low in methionine or having decreased stores of S adenosylmethionine are prone to tumor development. Thus, arsenic at low concentrations may be a beneficial anti cancer agent. That is, animals deprived of arsenic and subjected to a cancer causing stress may be more apt to develop cancer than those subjected to the same stress but with adequate arsenic. Because iodine deficiency is a problem world wide, further studies are needed to ascertain whether vanadium nutriture influences the consequences of inadequate iodine metabolism.
Dietary folate affects the response of rats to nickel deprivation.
Arsenic essentiality and factors affecting its importance. Science and Technology Letters, 199-208, 1994. Effect of vanadium, iodine and their interaction on growth, blood variables, liver trace elements and thyroid status indices in rats.