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. 2014 Oct 24:13:87.
doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-13-87.

Sex- and age-differences in blood manganese levels in the U.S. general population: national health and nutrition examination survey 2011-2012

Youssef Oulhote, Donna Mergler, Maryse F Bouchard  1
Affiliations

Sex- and age-differences in blood manganese levels in the U.S. general population: national health and nutrition examination survey 2011-2012

Youssef Oulhote et al. Environ Health. .

Abstract

Background: Manganese is an essential element, but excessive manganese exposure has neurotoxic effects.

Objective: To examine blood manganese levels in the general population with respect to sex, age, race/ethnicity, pregnancy and menauposal status, as well as levels of trace elements in blood.

Methods: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national survey of U.S. residents (n = 7720 participants, ages 1 to 80 years). General linear models and generalized additive models were used to examine the association between blood manganese concentration and participants' characterisics, accounting for the complex survey design.

Results: Blood manganese levels ranged from 1.6 to 62.5 μg/L, with arithmetic means of 10.6 and 9.2 μg/L for women and men, respectively. The following characteristics were significantly associated with higher blood manganese levels: female sex, younger age, Asian origin, and being pregnant. In addition, there were non-linear relationships between blood manganese levels and cadmium, iron, lead, and mercury levels.

Conclusion: The higher blood manganese levels observed among females suggest sex-related metabolic differences in the regulation of manganese, and elevated levels among pregnant women suggest an important role of manganese in reproduction. The present study supports the need to take into consideration age- and sex-related differences in blood manganese levels, as well as pregnancy status when examining manganese essentiality or toxicity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated mean blood Mn levels (95% CI) with respect to sex and age, adjusted for race/ethnicity and blood cadmium levels (n = 7720). Statistics are weighted.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Estimated mean blood Mn levels (95% CI) with respect to sex and race/ethnicity, adjusted for age and blood cadmium levels (n = 7720). Statistics are weighted.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Association between blood Mn and cadmium levels (95% CI) for individuals 1–11 years, adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and blood lead, selenium, and mercury levels (n = 1761). Statistics are weighted.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sex-stratified association between blood Mn and serum iron levels (95% CI) for individuals 12–80 years, adjusted for age, BMI, PIR, race/ethnicity, and blood lead, cadmium, selenium, and mercury levels (n = 5287). Statistics are weighted.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Association between blood Mn and lead, cadmium, iron, and mercury levels (95% CI) for individuals 12–80 years, adjusted for age, sex, BMI, PIR, race/ethnicity, and blood selenium levels (n = 5287). Statistics are weighted.
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