What is Manganese Citrate?
Manganese citrate (CAS Number: 10024-66-5) is an organic salt compound formed by combining manganese with citric acid. It exists as a fine crystalline powder and serves as a bioavailable form of manganese, an essential trace mineral required for numerous metabolic functions in the human body. The citrate form enhances absorption compared to some other manganese compounds, making it suitable for nutritional supplementation in food applications.
Common Uses
Manganese citrate is primarily used in the food industry as a nutrient supplement to fortify various food and beverage products. It appears in breakfast cereals, nutritional bars, fortified juices, and dietary supplement formulations where manganese content needs to be increased to meet nutritional requirements or marketing claims. Additionally, the compound functions as a sequestrant—a substance that binds trace metals and prevents them from participating in chemical reactions that could cause discoloration, off-flavors, or texture degradation in food products. This dual functionality makes it economically efficient in multi-purpose food formulations.
Safety Assessment
According to FDA records, there have been zero reported adverse events associated with manganese citrate, and the additive has not been subject to any food recalls. Manganese itself is an essential nutrient; adequate intake is necessary for bone development, wound healing, and metabolic function. The FDA has established an Adequate Intake (AI) for manganese at 2.3 mg/day for adult men and 1.8 mg/day for adult women.
Manganese toxicity is generally considered a concern only at significantly elevated intake levels, particularly from environmental or occupational exposure rather than dietary sources in typical food applications. The trace amounts present in fortified foods through manganese citrate are well below levels associated with adverse health effects. The bioavailability of manganese citrate is comparable to or better than other manganese salts used in fortification, contributing to predictable nutritional value without excessive accumulation in tissues.
No significant adverse effects have been documented in the scientific literature regarding manganese citrate use in food fortification at approved levels. The citrate component itself is recognized as safe and is widely used in food applications as a flavor enhancer and pH buffer.
Regulatory Status
Manganese citrate has not received GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) affirmation from the FDA as a direct food additive, though it may be permitted under specific regulatory pathways for nutrient supplementation. Manganese compounds, including manganese citrate, are approved for use in dietary supplements and fortified foods in many countries, including the United States, European Union countries, Canada, and Australia. The compound appears on the FDA's database of approved nutrient supplements and is subject to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) regulations.
In the European Union, manganese is an approved nutrient in food fortification applications under Regulation (EC) No. 1925/2006, with manganese citrate among acceptable forms for use. Maximum fortification levels are established based on dietary intake assessments to ensure consumer safety.
Key Studies
While specific clinical studies on manganese citrate are limited, research on manganese bioavailability demonstrates that organic citrate forms enhance mineral absorption. Studies examining manganese fortification in foods have consistently shown that citrate forms provide bioavailable manganese comparable to or superior to inorganic salts. Research on overall manganese intake from fortified foods and supplements indicates that typical consumption patterns remain well within safe ranges established by nutritional authorities.
The World Health Organization and regulatory agencies in multiple countries have reviewed manganese safety data and established tolerable upper intake levels at 11 mg/day for adults, significantly higher than typical dietary or fortified food intake. This substantial safety margin reflects the low toxicity of manganese from food sources.