Russian nutrition expert outlines health risks of manganese imbalance

Nutrition specialist Andrey Skalny said manganese is an often-overlooked micronutrient essential to health, warning that both deficiency and excess can cause problems affecting the immune and nervous systems. Skalny said manganese is a component of the superoxide dismutase enzyme, which protects cells and mitochondria from oxidative stress, and that reduced levels of the enzyme can raise the risk of cancer and inflammation. The trace element also supports the production of joint cartilage, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, with deficiency linked to growth delays, bone and cartilage problems and slower wound healing. According to the specialist, manganese deficiency can combine with copper deficiency to reduce bone mineral density, increasing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis, and may affect progesterone and prolactin production in women, contributing to pelvic adhesions and infertility. It also activates enzymes that convert lactate and amino acids into glucose during gluconeogenesis, with deficiency associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Skalny added that manganese is required for the enzyme that detoxifies ammonia in the liver, meaning low levels can contribute to liver toxicity, and that the mineral plays a role in memory, learning and emotional regulation, with deficiency linked to depression, epilepsy and cognitive problems. He also cautioned that excess manganese raises the risk of Parkinson-like neurological symptoms and cognitive decline, emphasizing the importance of balanced intake.