Manganese
Drug Information Provided By Gold Standard
NOTE: In the US, nutraceuticals are marketed under the Dietary Supplement and Health
Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Consequently, scientific data supporting claimed benefit(s) are
not always available for nutraceuticals as they are for traditional pharmaceuticals since
nutraceuticals are not regulated as drugs. Consumers should also note that rigid quality control
standards are not required for nutraceuticals and substantial variability can occur in both the
potency and the purity of these products. Monographs on nutraceuticals are included in CP when
reliable clinical data are available. The information presented below is condensed from the best
clinical data we could find.
Description: Manganese is an essential trace element. In the body, manganese is stored in
mitochondria-rich tissues such as the brain, kidney, pancreas, liver, and skeletal muscle
parenchyma. Rich dietary sources include whole grains, cereal products, some vegetables,
legumes and nuts (IOM 2001). There is no established recommended daily allowance (RDA) for
manganese. Instead, adequate intakes (AIs) are representative of the needs of various age groups;
in healthy infants the AIs describe the mean intake obtainable via breastmilk (IOM 2001).
Manganese requirements in humans are low and are easily met with normal dietary sources,
deficiency is rare.
Actions: Manganese is an activator for enzymes such as polysaccharide polymerase, liver
arginase, cholinesterase, and pyruvate carboxylase. Manganese may also serve as a cofactor in
lipid, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism, and is important in bone formation. In animals,
manganese deficiency may lead to poor reproductive performance, growth retardation,
congenital malformations in offspring, abnormal formation of bone and cartilage, dermatitis, and
impaired glucose tolerance.
Uses/Documentation: Manganese is known to be an important nutrient, but manganese
deficiency has not been documented in humans, as dietary intakes often exceed dietary
requirements. The element may be added to TPN solutions in patients who receive chronic
parenteral nutrition.
Contraindications/Precautions: NOTE: Manganese supplements should be used cautiously in
young children and pregnant or lactating females. Do not supplement manganese in these
populations without medical supervision.
Biliary tract or hepatic dysfunction: increased blood concentrations may result because
manganese is excreted in bile. Manganese supplementation to patients on long-term TPN should
be cautious; if patients develop cholestatic liver disease associated with TPN, manganeses may
need to be reduced or discontinued.
Renal impairment or renal failure: Manganese chloride injection contains aluminum; aluminum
may reach toxic levels with prolonged administration if patients with renal impairment. Research
indicates that patients with renal impairment, who receive parenteral aluminum at rates greater
than 45 mcg/kg/day, may accumulate aluminum at levels associated with CNS and bone
toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at lower administration rates.
nutritional supplementation
Classifications
Nutritional Supplements
Minerals