Manganese

Alternative Medicine The following information is specific for alternative and complementary medicine. For additional evidence-based information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and wellness issues, continue searching the Healthwise Knowledgebase.

Related Topics

See also:

• Drug interactions

Manganese is an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, bone, and cartilage formation, as well as glucose tolerance. It also helps activate superoxide dismutase (SOD)-an important antioxidant enzyme.

Where is it found?

Nuts and seeds, wheat germ, wheat bran, leafy green vegetables, beet tops, tea, and pineapple are all good sources of manganese.

Health Concerns

Manganese has been used in connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

Rating	Health Concerns
	Tardive dyskinesia
	Hypoglycemia Osgood-Schlatter disease Osteoporosis Sprains and strains Type 1 diabetes Type 2 diabetes
Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit. An herb is primarily supported by traditional use, or the herb or supplement has little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

Deficiency Symptoms

Who is likely to be deficient?

Many people consume less than the 2-5 mg of manganese currently considered safe and adequate. Nonetheless, clear deficiencies are rare. People with osteoporosis sometimes have low blood levels of manganese, suggestive of deficiency.¹

Dosage

How much is usually taken?

Whether most people would benefit from manganese supplementation remains unclear. While there is no recommended dietary allowance, the National Research Council's "estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake" is 2-5 mg.² The Institute of Medicine recommends that intake of manganese from food, water and dietary supplements should not exceed the tolerable daily upper limit of 11 mg per day. In contrast, the 5-15 mg often found in high-potency multivitamin-mineral supplements is generally considered to be a reasonable level by many doctors, though many manufacturers are likely to reformulate their products to contain no more than 11 mg per daily amount.

Side Effects

Are there any side effects or interactions?

Amounts found in supplements (5-20 mg) have not been linked with any toxicity. Excessive intake of manganese rarely lead to psychiatric symptoms. However, most reports of manganese toxicity in otherwise healthy people have been in those people who chronically inhaled manganese dust at their jobs e.g., miners or alloy plant workers. Other sources of manganese intoxication are now recognized, including total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in patients who are being fed intravenously^{3, 4, 5} and pesticides containing manganese in agricultural workers who have been exposed.⁶

Preliminary research suggests that people with cirrhosis⁷ or cholestasis (blocked bile flow from the gall bladder)⁸ may not be able to properly excrete manganese. Until more is known, these people should not supplement manganese. Manganese supplementation (3-5 mg per day) has caused severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in a person with insulin-dependent diabetes.⁹ People with diabetes who want to take manganese should consult their doctor.

Several minerals, such as calcium and iron, and possibly zinc, reduce the absorption of manganese.¹⁰ Of these interactions, the link to iron may be the most important. In one study, women with high iron status had relatively poor absorption of manganese.¹¹ In another report of manganese/iron interactions in women, increased intake of "non-heme iron"-the kind of iron found in most supplements-decreased manganese status.¹² These interactions suggest that taking multi-minerals that include manganese may protect against manganese deficiencies that might otherwise be triggered by taking isolated mineral supplements, particularly iron.

Are there any drug interactions?

Certain medicines may interact with manganese. Refer to drug interactions for a list of those medicines.

References

1. Raloff J. Reasons for boning up on manganese. Science 1986;130:199 [review].
2. National Research Council. Recommended Dietary Allowances. 10th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1989.
3. Nagatomo S, Umehara F, Hanada K, et al. Manganese intoxication during total parenteral nutrition: report of two cases and review of the literature. J Neurol Sci 1999;162:102-5.
4. Ejima A, Imamura T, Nakamura S, et al. Manganese intoxication during total parenteral nutrition. Lancet 1992;339:426 [letter].
5. Fell JM, Reynolds AP, Meadows N, et al. Manganese toxicity in children receiving long-term parenteral nutrition. Lancet 1996;347:1218-21.
6. Ferraz HB, Bertolucci PH, Pereira JS, et al. Chronic exposure to the fungicide maneb may produce symptoms and signs of CNS manganese intoxication. Neurology 1988;38:550-3.
7. Krieger D, Krieger S, Jansen O, et al. Manganese and chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Lancet 1995;346:270-4.
8. Staunton M, Phelan DM. Manganese toxicity in a patient with cholestasis receiving total parenteral nutrition. Anaesthesia 1995;50:665.
9. Rubenstein AH, Levin NW, Elliott GA. Hypoglycaemia induced by manganese. Nature (London) 1962;194:188-9.
10. Freeland-Graves JH. Manganese: an essential nutrient for humans. Nutr Today 1989;23:13-9 [review].
11. Finley JW. Manganese absorption and retention by young women is associated with serum ferritin concentration. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;70:37-43.
12. Davis CD, Malecki EA, Gerger JL. Interactions among dietary manganese, heme iron, and nonheme iron in women. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;56:926-32.

---

Last Review: 09-01-2007

Copyright © 2007 Healthnotes, Inc.  All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com

Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.

Learn more about the authors of Healthnotes.

The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2008.

	Go to top of page
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.