Background

Manganese is an essential mineral required for the body to function properly. It's found in foods such as nuts, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables.

Manganese is the twelfth most common element on the earth's crust. In the body, it's involved in many chemical processes, including the processing of cholesterol, carbohydrates, and protein. It might also be involved in bone formation.

People use manganese for manganese deficiency. It is also used for hay fever, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Manganese is likely safe for adults 19 years and older when consumed in amounts up to 11 mg daily. But taking more than 11 mg daily by mouth is possibly unsafe. Taking high doses, long-term can lead to Parkinson disease-like symptoms.

When inhaled: Manganese is likely unsafe when used in moderate amounts, long-term. Excess manganese in the body can cause serious side effects, including poor bone health and symptoms similar to Parkinson disease, such as tremors.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Children: Taking manganese by mouth is likely safe for children when consumed in amounts below the daily tolerable upper intake level (UL) by age: less than 2 mg for those 1-3 years; less than 3 mg for those 4-8 years; less than 6 mg for those 9-13 years; and less than 9 mg for those 14-18 years. Taking higher doses is possibly unsafe. Manganese is also likely unsafe when inhaled by children.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Manganese is likely safe when taken by mouth while pregnant or breast-feeding in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL). This means less than 11 mg daily for those 19 years and older and less than 9 mg daily in those under 19 years-old. Manganese is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth in higher doses. Doses over 11 mg daily are more likely to cause serious side effects. Taking too much manganese might also decrease the birth size of male infants. Manganese is likely unsafe when inhaled while pregnant or breast-feeding.

Liver disease: People with long-term liver disease have trouble getting rid of manganese. Manganese can build up and cause side effects. If you have liver disease, be careful not to get too much manganese.

Iron-deficiency anemia: People with iron-deficiency anemia seem to absorb more manganese than other people. If you have this condition, be careful not to get too much manganese.

Effectiveness

Dosing & administration

It's recommended that adult males 19 years and older consume 2.3 mg of manganese daily and adult females 19 years and older consume 1.8 mg of manganese daily.

As medicine, manganese has most often been used by adults in combination with other ingredients, in doses of 0.5-5.6 mg by mouth daily for up to 24 weeks. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what dose might be best for a specific condition.

Interactions with pharmaceuticals

Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Manganese can attach to quinolone antibiotics in the stomach, decreasing the amount of antibiotics that can be absorbed by the body. This might decrease their effects. To avoid this interaction, take manganese supplements at least one hour after quinolone antibiotics.

Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Manganese can attach to tetracycline antibiotics in the stomach, decreasing the amount of antibiotics that can be absorbed by the body. This might decrease their effects. To avoid this interaction, take manganese two hours before or four hours after taking tetracyclines.

Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Taking certain antipsychotic drugs along with manganese might worsen side effects of manganese in some people.

Interactions with herbs & supplements

Calcium: Taking calcium along with manganese can decrease the amount of manganese that the body can absorb.
IP-6 (Phytic acid): IP-6 found in supplements can decrease the amount of manganese that the body can absorb. Take manganese at least two hours before or two hours after taking supplements that contain IP-6.
Iron: Taking iron along with manganese can decrease the amount of manganese that the body can absorb.
Zinc: Taking zinc along with manganese can increase the amount of manganese that the body can absorb. This may increase the side effects of manganese.

Interactions with foods

IP-6 found in foods, such as cereals, nuts, and beans, can decrease the amount of manganese that the body can absorb. Take manganese at least two hours before or two hours after eating foods that contain IP-6.

Taking manganese with milk and/or fat-containing foods might increase how much manganese the body absorbs.