Manganese sulfate

mineralmanganese salt

What is it

Manganese sulfate (MnSO4) is an inorganic salt of the essential trace mineral manganese, most often supplied as the monohydrate (MnSO4·H2O), a pale-pink crystalline solid. In dietary supplements it is one of the most common sources of supplemental manganese, alongside manganese gluconate, citrate, picolinate, ascorbate, and chelates. Manganese is a cofactor for enzymes including manganese superoxide dismutase, arginase, pyruvate carboxylase, and several glycosyltransferases involved in connective tissue synthesis. Dietary requirements are met by whole grains, legumes, leafy vegetables, tea, and nuts; supplemental manganese sulfate is typically included in multivitamin-mineral products at small doses.

Evidence for 4 uses

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Manganese deficiency prevention

Good

Manganese is an essential nutrient, and manganese sulfate is an effective supplemental source for correcting or preventing the rare cases of frank deficiency, which is mostly seen in experimental restriction or parenteral nutrition. Routine population deficiency is uncommon owing to wide dietary distribution.

Bone health (as part of multinutrient supplementation)

Limited

Manganese contributes to glycosaminoglycan and bone matrix synthesis, and combination supplements containing manganese alongside calcium, zinc, and copper have shown small effects on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Effects specifically attributable to manganese supplementation alone are unproven.

Premenstrual symptoms

Mixed

One controlled feeding study suggested that low manganese intake worsened premenstrual mood and pain symptoms, but this finding has not led to a clinical role for manganese supplementation in routine PMS management.

Osteoarthritis (as part of formulations)

Mixed

Manganese is included in some glucosamine-chondroitin formulations marketed for joint health, but evidence for a specific contribution of manganese to symptomatic benefit is not established.

Dosage

The U.S. Adequate Intake for manganese is 1.8 mg/day for adult women and 2.3 mg/day for adult men. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is 11 mg/day for adults from food and supplements combined. Most multivitamin-mineral products provide 1-5 mg of manganese as the sulfate or other salt, often equivalent to half to twice the AI. Stand-alone manganese supplements are typically 5-20 mg per serving; these can readily exceed the UL and are not recommended for routine use without medical indication.

Safety

Manganese from food is generally regarded as safe, and oral supplementation up to the UL (11 mg/day for adults) is well tolerated in healthy adults. Excessive oral intake, exposure to airborne manganese (e.g., in mining or welding), or impaired biliary excretion can lead to manganese accumulation in the basal ganglia and a Parkinsonism-like syndrome known as manganism. People with chronic liver disease, cholestasis, or those receiving long-term parenteral nutrition are at particular risk and should generally avoid supplemental manganese without monitoring. Iron deficiency increases manganese absorption. Tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics can chelate manganese and should be separated from manganese-containing supplements by 2-4 hours. Infant formula and parenteral nutrition formulations must observe stricter manganese limits because of neurodevelopmental concerns at high exposures.

References

  • Wikidata: manganese sulfate (Q72488175) — Wikidata link
  • NIH ODS: Manganese - Health Professional Fact Sheet — NIH ODS link
  • PubChem CID 24580: Manganese sulfate — PubChem link
  • NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database: Manganese Sulfate — DSLD link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.