Manganese

Overview

Manganese is a mineral that is found in several foods including nuts, legumes, seeds, tea, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables. It is considered an essential nutrient, because the body requires it to function properly. People use manganese as medicine.

Manganese is used for manganese deficiency. It is also used for weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis), osteoarthritis, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Mineral

Primary Functions:

Manganese deficiency

Also Known As:

Aminoate de Manganèse, Ascorbate de Manganèse, Chlorure de Manganèse, Citrate de Manganèse

How Does It Work?

Manganese is an essential nutrient involved in many chemical processes in the body, including processing of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein. It might also be involved in bone formation.

Uses

  • Manganese deficiency.Taking manganese by mouth or giving manganese intravenously (by IV) helps to treat or prevent low manganese levels in the body. Also, taking manganese by mouth along with other vitamins and minerals can promote growth in children who have low levels of manganese in developing countries.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS
BY MOUTH:

  • General: No recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for manganese have been established. When there are no RDAs for a nutrient, the Adequate Intake (AI) is used as a guide. The AI is the estimated amount of the nutrient that is used by a group of healthy people and assumed to be adequate. The daily Adequate Intake (AI) levels for manganese are: men age 19 and older, 2.3 mg; women 19 and older, 1.8 mg; pregnant women age 14 to 50, 2 mg; breastfeeding women, 2.6 mg.
  • Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL), the highest level of intake at which unwanted side effects are not expected, for manganese have been established. The daily ULs for manganese are: for adults 19 years and older (including pregnant and breast-feeding women), 11 mg.

BY IV:

  • For low manganese levels in the body (manganese deficiency): For preventing manganese deficiency in adults, total parenteral nutrition containing up to 200 mcg of elemental manganese per day has been used. The recommended daily dose of manganese in long-term use of total parenteral nutrition is = 55 mcg per day.

CHILDREN
BY MOUTH:

  • General: No recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for manganese have been established. When there are no RDAs for a nutrient, the Adequate Intake (AI) is used as a guide. The AI is the estimated amount of the nutrient that is used by a group of healthy people and assumed to be adequate. In infants and children, the daily Adequate Intake (AI) levels for manganese are: infants birth to 6 months, 3 mcg; 7 to 12 months, 600 mcg; children 1 to 3 years, 1.2 mg; 4 to 8 years 1.5 mg; boys 9 to 13 years, 1.9 mg; boys 14 to 18 years, 2.2 mg; and girls 9 to 18 years, 1.6 mg. Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL), the highest level of intake at which unwanted side effects are not expected, for manganese have been established. The daily ULs for manganese for children are: children 1 to 3 years, 2 mg; 4 to 8 years, 3 mg; 9 to 13 years, 6 mg; and 14 to 18 years (including pregnant and breastfeeding women), 9 mg.

BY IV:

  • For low manganese levels in the body (manganese deficiency): For preventing manganese deficiency in children, total parenteral nutrition containing 2-10 mcg or up to 50 mcg of elemental manganese per day has been used.

Manganese Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What is manganese supplement used for?

People use manganese as medicine. Manganese is used for prevention and treatment of manganese deficiency, a condition in which the body doesn't have enough manganese. It is also used for weak bones (osteoporosis), a type of “tired blood” (anemia), and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

What are the benefits of manganese?

10 Evidence-Based Benefits of Manganese

  • May Improve Bone Healthin Combination With Other Nutrients. ...
  • Strong AntioxidantProperties May Reduce Disease Risk. ...
  • Helps Reduce Inflammation, Particularly in Combination With Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
  • Plays a Role in Blood Sugar Regulation.
  • Linked to Lower Incidences of Epileptic Seizures.

What are the symptoms of manganese deficiency?

Signs of manganese deficiency include impaired growth, impaired reproductive function, skeletal abnormalities, impaired glucose tolerance, and altered carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In humans, demonstration of a manganese deficiency syndrome has been less clear (2, 7).

Are manganese supplements safe?

When taken by mouth: Manganese is LIKELY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in amounts up to 11 mg per day. However, people who have trouble getting rid of manganese from the body, such as people with liver disease, may experience side effects when taking less than 11 mg per day.

Is Magnesium the same as manganese?

Magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) are essential plant nutrients. Magnesium is one of the three “secondary” plant nutrients along with sulfur and calcium. It is taken up in moderately large qualities compared to only trace amounts of Mn (Table 1). Magnesium is a constituent of the chlorophyll molecule.

Which foods are high in manganese?

Sources of Manganese. Manganese is present in a wide variety of foods, including whole grains, clams, oysters, mussels, nuts, soybeans and other legumes, rice, leafy vegetables, coffee, tea, and many spices, such as black pepper [1,2,5,10,11].

What happens if you have too much manganese?

If you take too much manganese as supplements, you could have side effects. These can include loss of appetite, slowed growth, and reproductive issues. It may also cause anemia. This is because manganese competes with iron for absorption.

How does the body get rid of manganese?

In most situations, there is no need to reduce the exposure to manganese because it is a needed nutrient for good health. If the body comes in contact with higher levels of manganese, it will be naturally removed through the bodily function of waste removal.

Can I take manganese and magnesium together?

Antacids -- Magnesium-containing antacids may decrease the absorption of manganese if taken together. Take supplements containing manganese at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking antacids. Laxatives -- Magnesium containing laxatives may decrease the absorption of manganese if taken together.

Where is manganese found in the body?

Manganese is taken up by the liver and other tissues, but the mechanism of this process is not well understood [1,2]. The human body contains about 10 to 20 mg manganese, of which 25% to 40% is in bone [1,2]. The liver, pancreas, kidney, and brain also contain manganese.

Is it safe to drink water with manganese?

Manganese can cause discoloured water at concentrations that are still safe to drink. ... Adults who drink water with manganese levels above the MAC are at a lower risk than infants and children. You may wish to consider water treatment to reduce levels or find other sources of drinking water over the long term.

Where can I get manganese?

Rich sources of manganese include whole grains, nuts, leafy vegetables, and teas. Foods high in phytic acid, such as beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and soy products, or foods high in oxalic acid, such as cabbage, spinach, and sweet potatoes, may slightly inhibit manganese absorption.

Can Manganese make you crazy?

Manganese can build up in these people and cause shaking, mental problems such as psychosis, and other side effects. If you have liver disease, be careful not to get too much manganese. Iron-deficiency anemia: People with iron-deficiency anemia seem to absorb more manganese than other people.

What are side effects of manganese?

If you take too much manganese as supplements, you could have side effects. These can include loss of appetite, slowed growth, and reproductive issues. It may also cause anemia. This is because manganese competes with iron for absorption.

Is manganese good for the body?

Manganese is a trace mineral. It is vital for the human body, but people only need it in small amounts. Manganese contributes to many bodily functions, including the metabolism of amino acids, cholesterol, glucose, and carbohydrates. It also plays a role in bone formation, blood clotting, and reducing inflammation.

What causes manganese deficiency?

Common causes

Manganese deficiency could be caused by not having enough manganese in your diet. However, according to the Institute of Medicine's review of dietary micronutrients, a clinical deficiency in manganese due to diet has not been observed in otherwise healthy people.

Does manganese lower blood pressure?

Manganese intake was significantly and negatively correlated with the systolic blood pressure in men after adjusting for gender, age, BMI, and energy intake.

Does manganese cause hair loss?

Manganese. ... Pathophysiology: Inadequate manganese intake has been associated with parenteral nutrition, resulting in dermatitis, changes in hair pigmentation and slowed hair growth. Low cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid levels were low. Significant deficiencies have been found in epileptics.

What is the recommended daily intake of manganese?

The daily Adequate Intake (AI) levels for manganese are: men age 19 and older, 2.3 mg; women 19 and older, 1.8 mg; pregnant women age 14 to 50, 2 mg; breastfeeding women, 2.6 mg.

Clinical Studies