Manganese

Requirements:

• RDA:
  
  None
• Daily Optimal Intake:
  
  5 - 30 mg. for women and men
  3 mg. for children
  1.5 mg. for infants

Supplement Forms:

• Manganese carbonate
• Manganese chloride
• Manganese gluconate
• Manganese oxide

Labs:

• Whole blood manganese - preferred
• Hair analysis varies with graying

Food Sources:

• Avocado
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Fruits - moderate amounts
• Nuts - especially hazelnuts and pecans
• Tea
• Seaweed
• Seeds
• Vegetables - moderate amounts
• Whole grains - especially oatmeal, buckwheat, and whole wheat

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Cartilage defects (in animal studies)
• Bone defects (in animal studies)
• Weight loss
• Altered hair color
• Dementia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Poor growth
• Hypocholesterolemia
  

Causes of Deficiency:

• Consuming refined foods

Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:

• Usually well tolerated when taken in the form of food or supplements
• Toxicity when manganese is inhaled - produces Parkinson's-like symptoms

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Iron supplementation can lead to increased manganese excretion

Biochemical Functions:

• Synthesis of glycosaminoglycans
• Part of SOD
• Needed for function of dopamine
• Lowered blood glucose in patients unresponsive to insulin
• SOD prevents free radical damage

Clinical Indications:

• Atherosclerosis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Diabetes mellitus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Epilepsy
• Maintenance of cartilage integrity
• Myasthenia gravis
• Seizure prevention

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).