Can Manganese Help The Pancreas?

While manganese may not be found in large amounts in your body, you still need it in trace amounts to maintain good health. When it comes to your pancreas in particular, manganese is linked to it in two ways. First, your pancreas is one of the main storage organs for manganese. Secondly, diabetes -- a pancreatic-related condition -- is more prevalent in those who have low manganese levels. Always speak with your physician, however, before increasing the amount of manganese in your diet to ensure you consume a healthy amount.

Significance

Manganese is considered a trace mineral in your body, meaning it is not as prevalent as minerals such as iron. The adequate daily intake for manganese is 2.3 milligrams per day for adult males ages 19 and older and 1.8 milligrams for females in the same age group, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Those who eat a diet high in vegetables often have very high levels of manganese, as the mineral is found in foods such as pineapples, pecans, almonds, raisin bran, whole-wheat bread, navy beans, spinach, sweet potatoes and brown rice. Your body can store manganese in locations such as your bones, liver, kidneys and pancreas for use in forming connective tissue, bones, hormones and maintaining normal blood sugar levels.

Deficiency Dangers

If you do not take in enough manganese in your daily diet, your pancreas could experience adverse effects. This is because manganese deficiency is associated with reduced production of pancreatic amylase, an enzyme that helps to break down carbohydrates in your diet. When you lack pancreatic amylase enzyme, your blood sugar levels are more likely to be high. This can be harmful, because high blood sugar levels are associated with an increased risk for diabetes, a condition that occurs when your body cannot properly use glucose for energy.

Excess Intake

While manganese deficiency may harm the pancreas, a correlation has not been made between increased manganese intake and improved blood sugar control, according to the book “Guide to Nutritional Supplements” by Benjamin Caballero. In addition, eating more than the recommended daily allowance on a regular basis could affect your liver, which is responsible for filtering manganese.

Recommendations

Making an effort to consume the recommended daily intake for manganese can help to ensure your pancreas will make sufficient enzymes to maintain blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, sufficient manganese intake also may have a protective effect on your cholesterol levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Consuming plenty of whole grains and vegetables in your daily diet can help to ensure you get enough manganese. If you suspect you have a manganese deficiency, however, speak to your physician.