Manganese mineral supplement benefit and side effects by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Manganese is a mineral found naturally in the environment and is also released into the air from mining and manufacturing operations and from combustion of gasoline additives. People get exposed to manganese through breathing air and dust contaminated with manganese. Manganese mineral plays a critical role in many metabolic processes, including reproduction.

Manganese in food
The body needs tiny amounts of manganese, and it's found as a trace mineral in foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Source Naturals Manganese, 15 mg, 250 Tablets

Manganese is an essential trace mineral involved in many key functions in the body. It plays a role in energy production, in normal bone formation and development, and in the synthesis of many vital cellular biochemicals such as collagen, prothrombin, urea, mucopolysaccharides, fatty acids and proteins. In addition, manganese is a cofactor for superoxide dismutase, one of the body's main protective antioxidant systems. This manganese is specially bonded (chelated) with amino acids to protect mineral value and enhance assimilation.*

Suggested Use: 1 manganese tablet once or twice a week, or as recommended by your health care professional.

Supplement Facts: 1 Tablet
Manganese amino acid chelate 15 mg, 750% daily value

Dosage: Take one tablet once a week.

Manganese and fertility
High intake or too little environmental exposure to the mineral manganese can reduce sperm quality and quantity. This may influence male infertility. Trace amounts of manganese are needed for normal sperm function, but high levels have been shown to harm male fertility. Men with high manganese levels have a greater likelihood of low sperm motility and to have low sperm counts. Low blood manganese levels are also associated with low sperm motility. Epidemiology, March 2007.

Manganese toxicity and Parkinson's disease
People exposed to the metal manganese through industrial pollution may be at increased risk of Parkinson-like problems like tremors and impaired movement. Manganese is used in steel production and as a coating on welding rods, among other industrial applications. Overexposure is known to damage nerve cells, potentially causing Parkinson-like problems known as manganism -- including tremors, slowed movement and unsteady gait.

People living near a steel factory or another source of high manganese emissions are at higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010.