Manganese mineral supplement benefit and side effects
December 19 2017 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 (Mn) is an essential element for humans, animals, and plants and is required for growth, development, and maintenance of health. Mn is present in most tissues of all living organisms and is present naturally in rocks, soil, water, and food. High-dose oral, parenteral, or inhalation exposures are associated with increased tissue Mn levels that may lead to development of adverse neurological, reproductive, or respiratory effects. Manganese-induced clinical neurotoxicity is associated with a motor dysfunction syndrome commonly referred to as manganism.

Deficiency, lack of
PLoS One. 2013. The insufficiency intake of dietary micronutrients associated with malnutrition-inflammation score in hemodialysis population. The relations between dietary micronutrient, nutritional status and inflammation in hemodialysis patients are still unclear. A cross-sectional study was performed in hemodialysis population. 75 hemodialysis patients from South China participated in the dietary and nutritional assessment. Clinical and dietary data were collected. Nutritional status was assessed by Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) in addition to related anthropometric measurements. And according to the MIS score, the whole hemodialysis patients were divided into normal nutrition group and malnutrition group. The reduction of dietary Se, Cu, I and Mn intake level may be alarming markers for malnutrition and inflammatory status in hemodialysis patients.

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. Acai fruit has a high level of manganese.

Q. I started a supplement a while back that had way over 100 mg of manganese in it if taken according to directions. The form was manganese glycerophosphate. Is this amount safe to take? I thought it was a trace mineral?
   A. There is a risk to taking daily doses of this mineral and I prefer it not being taken more than twice 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.

Questions
What dosage of Chelated Manganese in your view is safe to take daily for tardive dyskinesia, and can it be combined with ginkgo biloba?
   A. I am not aware of studies that show supplementation with this mineral to be effective for tardive dyskinesia.

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.