Manganese also plays an essential role in regulation of cellular energy, bone and connective tissue growth, and blood clotting.
Humans maintain stable tissue levels of Mn. This is achieved via tight homeostatic control of both absorption and excretion. Only a small percentage of dietary manganese is absorbed. Manganese is used in energy production and is required for normal bone growth and for reproduction. In addition, it is used in the formation of cartilage and synovial (lubricating) fluid of the joints. It is also necessary for the synthesis of bone.
Too little dietary manganese causes impaired skeletal development and reproduction, abnormal carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and movement disorders.
Manganese is essential for people with iron deficiency anemia and is needed for the utilization of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and vitamin E. Most of the blood manganese (~60%) is distributed in soft tissues, the rest is rapidly delivered to the liver (30%), kidney (5%), pancreas (5%), colon (1%), bone (0.5.%), urinary system (0.2.%), brain (0.1.%) and erythrocytes (0.0.2%).
Manganese works well with the B complex vitamins to give as overall feeling of wellbeing.
Manganese is an important cofactor for a variety of enzymes, including those involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism. Manganese aids in the formation of mother’s milk and is a key element in the production of enzymes needed to oxidize fats and to metabolize purines, including the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase.
Enzymes containing manganese protect the body from harmful oxygen radicals, highly reactive oxygen containing molecules that can damage living tissues.
The richest food sources of manganese are nuts, bread and cereal products. The Adequate Intake of manganese for adult men and women is 2.3 and 1.8 mg/day, respectively, being the Tolerable Upper Intake Level for adults of 11 mg/day.
Roles and functions of mineral manganese in human body
