Manganese (Mn) is an element from the group of heavy metals. It occurs as a trace element in the human body.
It is absorbed in the small intestine and accumulates mainly in the muscles as well as the liver.Manganese plays an important role in many metabolic processes of the human body as an activator and component of enzymes.
Manganese poisoning may result in the following symptoms:
- Nerve damage
- Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
- Tremor (“shaking”) and other Parkinson’s-like symptoms.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
- Heparinized blood (first choice method).
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- Not known
Normal values – blood serum
| Normal value in ng/ml | 3 |
Normal values – heparinized blood
| Normal value in ng/ml | 7-11 |
Indications
- Suspected manganese poisoning
- Suspicion of manganese deficiency (rare)
Interpretation
Interpretation of lowered values
- Parenteral nutrition – exclusive nutrition through the veins.
- Epilepsy
- Postmenopausal osteoporosis – form of osteoporosis that occurs in women after menopause (menopause).
Interpretation of elevated values
- Occupational exposure (manganese-containing vapors and manganese dioxide dust; steel and dye industries).
- Iron deficiency
- Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
- Terminal renal failure – Last stage of kidney weakness, in which the blood must be purified by hemodialysis (“blood washing”).
- Severe form of ischemic heart disease – Minderversorgung of the heart with blood.
Other indications
- The normal requirement for manganese in women as well as men is 2.0-5.0 mg/d.
