Manganese

Manganese is concentrated in plant foods, particularly wholegrains and tea. Most UK adults exceed the safe-intake orientation figure comfortably from food. Deficiency is not a clinical concern; the relevant story is upper-end, particularly from supplements in older adults.

Values per 100g from USDA SR Legacy and McCance and Widdowson 7th edition; the site's food entries currently store macros only.

The UK has not set a strict Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) for manganese. NHS guidance reproduces SACN's safe-intake position.

Manganese deficiency is essentially unknown from normal UK diets. It has been produced in controlled feeding studies but does not present clinically from any realistic eating pattern.

NHS supplement guidance: manganese in food is unlikely to be harmful. Manganese in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm at 4mg or less per day. People aged 50 and over may be more likely to suffer harm at lower levels.

Very high long-term intake (much higher than typical dietary levels, usually from occupational inhalation in mining and welding) can affect the nervous system. From food and normal supplement use, this is not a population concern.

Routine manganese supplementation is not needed for healthy UK adults. B-complex and multivitamin products typically include modest amounts; that is fine and within the safe range.

• Other trace minerals: Iron, Zinc, Copper, Selenium.
• Best food sources: Oat bran, Brown rice, Chickpeas, Spinach.

• NHS. Vitamins and minerals: Others. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/others.
• SACN. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Department of Health Report 41 (1991).
• Public Health England. McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 7th summary edition (2015).

This page is reference information for UK shoppers. It is not medical advice.