ABSTRACT
The essentiality of manganese has been regularly demonstrated in animal species, but comparable evidence for needs of manganese by the human is very limited. Serum levels of manganese can be accurately measured with the use of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and employing background correction. Manganese concentrations of mononuclear blood cells may have potential use as an indicator of manganese nutritional status. Manganese-dependent enzymes are involved in many areas of metabolism, which includes manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase, pyruvate carboxylase, arginase, glycosyl synthetase, glycosyltransferases, and galactose transferase. Analyses for manganese require recognition of contamination problems and the need for suitable analytical equipment and reference standards. Manganese toxicity has been observed only in workers exposed to high levels of manganese in the dust or fumes in the air. Low lymphocyte manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase activity may prove useful in assessing manganese status.
