Explanation

Manganese (blood): what is measured?

The analysis measures how much manganese is in your blood. Manganese is a trace element that is part of a number of enzymes and helps with energy metabolism and keeping bones strong. You get it from whole grain products, nuts, legumes, vegetables and fruit; less than 10 percent of the manganese from food is absorbed. The body excretes manganese mainly through the bile, so the liver regulates the amount.

What can it detect?

A buildup of manganese in severe liver disease or with long-term intravenous feeding
Exposure through work, for example during welding or in the metal industry

Result

What does the result mean?

Manganese (blood) too high

A raised value is rarely caused by diet. It is usually due to reduced removal through the bile in liver disease, to long-term intravenous feeding, or to inhaling dust or welding fumes containing manganese. With long-term, strongly increased exposure, symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease can develop, such as slowness, stiffness and shakiness, as well as mood and memory problems. A slightly raised value in someone without symptoms does not point to this.

Manganese (blood) too low

A low value has hardly any meaning in the Netherlands. A manganese deficiency due to diet has hardly ever been described in humans and there are no symptoms clearly linked to it. The value in blood is also a poor reflection of the amount of manganese in the tissues, so a low result does not mean you take in too little.

After an abnormal result

With a raised result, the GP looks at possible sources, including work, supplements and liver disease, and has the measurement repeated if needed. With persistently high values or with symptoms, referral to an internist (specialist in internal medicine), neurologist or occupational physician follows.

Reliability

How reliable is the test?

Manganese in blood is mainly informative with exposure at work or when removal through the bile may be disturbed, such as in severe liver disease or long-term intravenous feeding. In people without such a situation, a single value says little. Most manganese in the body is in the tissues and not in the blood, so a single blood value says little about your manganese status. The result says something about exposure, not about a buildup that you can remove with a course of treatment.

What can affect the result?

Manganese is mainly in red blood cells; if cells break down during the blood draw, the result comes out too high.
The blood value poorly reflects the amount of manganese in the brain and other tissues.
Too little is known about manganese to set a dietary reference value; the Health Council of the Netherlands only gives an adequate intake.
There are no agreed cutoff values above which a result counts as abnormal.

Who it is for

Who is the test useful for?

Useful for

Useful with known exposure through work or in a medical situation in which the removal of manganese may be disturbed, such as severe liver disease or long-term intravenous feeding. That testing goes through the treating doctor. In people without symptoms, the measurement adds nothing, and a low or high number is no reason to start or stop taking supplements.

How common is it?

A manganese deficiency does not occur in the Netherlands; the average intake from food is more than sufficient. Too much manganese is rare and then mainly through inhalation at work or with severe liver disease.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) and RIVM Dutch National Food Consumption Survey

Drawbacks and risks

A low result can wrongly lead to taking supplements, while a manganese deficiency does not occur in the Netherlands.
A slightly raised value without symptoms can lead to unnecessary worry about brain damage.

Get tested

Manganese (blood): test panels

Manganese (blood) is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.

Blood draw
Manganese
Manganese in blood; deficiency or intoxication.
€ 69,00
Fingerstick
Manganese
Manganese in blood; deficiency or intoxication.
€ 69,00

Evidence

Sources

This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.

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