Overview

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.

Uses & Effectiveness

Effective for

  • Manganese deficiency. Taking manganese by mouth or by IV can treat or prevent low manganese levels in the body. IV products can only be given by a healthcare provider.
There is interest in using manganese for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

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 and Warnings

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.

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.

Interactions

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics) interacts with MANGANESE

    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) interacts with MANGANESE

    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) interacts with MANGANESE

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

Dosing

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.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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