Manganese
Quick Facts
Manganese is a trace mineral that can be found in food and is available as a dietary supplement.
Some studies have shown low levels of manganese and high levels of lead to be associated with more incidences of ASD and/or ADHD.
Manganese also plays a role in the metabolism of amino acids, cholesterol, and glucose, bone formation, reproduction, and the human body’s immune response.
25-40% of manganese is in the bone, but it can also be found in the liver, pancreas, kidney, and brain [1].
Food Sources of Manganese
Pecans
Oysters
Spinach
Whole Wheat Bread
Milk
Recommended Intake
These recommendations are based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), which is the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient recommendations of nearly all (97-98%) of healthy individuals.
Males
1-3 years: 1.2 mg/day
4-8 years: 1.5 mg/day
9-13 years: 1.9 mg/day
14-18 years: 2.2 mg/ day
19-50 years: 2.3 mg/day
51+ years: 2.3 mg/day
Females
1-3 years: 1.2 mg/day
4-8 years: 1.5 mg/day
9-13 years: 1.6 mg/day
14-18 years: 1.6 mg/ day
19-50 years: 1.8 mg/day
51+ years: 1.8 mg/day
Manganese Deficiency
Common Symptoms of Manganese Deficiency Include:
Poor bone mineralization and growth in children
Skin rashes
Hair discoloration
Decreased cholesterol levels
Altered mood and premenstrual pain for women
Toxicity
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
Upper limits of manganese
1-3 years: 2 mg/day
4-8 years: 3 mg/day
9-13 years: 6 mg/day
14-18 years: 9 mg/ day
19-50 years: 11 mg/day
51+ years: 11 mg/day
Symptoms of Manganese Toxicity Include:
Tremors
Muscle spasms
Hearing loss
Anorexia
Changes in mood and memory
Delusions
Insomnia
Manganese toxicity has occurred in populations of people of work as welders and miners. They are exposed to high levels of manganese because of chronic inhalation of manganese dust.
Supplements
In supplements, manganese is presented in many forms.
Manganese gluconate- less likely to cause gastrointestinal upset; can be used as a single supplement (not included in a multivitamin)
Manganese sulfate- can be used for osteoarthritis; can be used as a single supplement
Manganese citrate
Manganese ascorbate
Not all multivitamin/mineral supplements contain manganese, but those that do usually provide 1.0 to 4.5 mg manganese.
Note: All supplements are linked to Amazon for convenience, however, buying supplements on Amazon does not guarantee quality, as there are many “unverified resellers” selling nutrition supplements. To buy supplements that are verified to be sent directly to the consumer, you can create an account on the Autism Dietitian FullScript and search for the respective supplement under “Catalog”.
DISCLAIMER: Before starting any supplement or medication, always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure it is a good fit for your child. Dosage can vary based on age, weight, gender, and current diet.
Manganese & Autism in the Research
Low Manganese
Low levels of manganese and high levels of lead may be associated with the incidence of ASD, ADHD, or the co-occurence of them together [2].
Manganese levels in ASD cases were significantly lower between two windows: 10 weeks prenatally to birth and postnatal weeks 5-20 [3].
There was a weak correlation between hair manganese and lead levels with ADOS-CSS, which can be a measure of ASD symptom severity [4]. This study also showed high hair levels of manganese, lead, and molybdenum were associated with lower cognitive function in individuals with ASD.
High Manganese
One study showed children with the gene GSTP1 who also had high serum levels of manganese, were six times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD. This study also revealed about 26% of individuals have this GSTP1 gene [5].
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[1] Manganese Fact Sheet for Consumers. Nih.gov. Accessed February 8, 2021. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-Consumer/
[2]Hawari I, Eskandar MB, Alzeer S. The Role of Lead, Manganese, and Zinc in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and Attention-Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): a Case-Control Study on Syrian Children Affected by the Syrian Crisis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020;197(1):107-114. doi:10.1007/s12011-020-02146-3
[3]Arora M, Reichenberg A, Willfors C, et al. Fetal and postnatal metal dysregulation in autism. Nat Commun. 2017;8:15493. Published 2017 Jun 1. doi:10.1038/ncomms15493
[4]Fiore M, Barone R, Copat C, et al. Metal and essential element levels in hair and association with autism severity. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2020;57:126409. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126409
[5]Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Ma J, et al. Synergic effect of GSTP1 and blood manganese concentrations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2015;18:73-82. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2015.08.001
Authors
Sheila Nguyen, Dietetic Intern
Suzy Morris, Dietetic Intern
Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
