CHANGES IN MANGANESE CONTENT OF MONONUCLEAR BLOOD-CELLS IN PATIENTS RECEIVING TOTAL PARENTERAL-NUTRITION

We measured the manganese content of mononuclear blood cells and the m anganese concentrations in whole blood and plasma from 31 healthy volu nteers and 25 patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (i.e ., no dietary manganese). The manganese content (mean +/- 2 SD) of mon onuclear blood cells and the manganese concentration in whole blood an d plasma in the healthy volunteers were 8.84 +/- 4.18 ng/10(8) cells, 11.21 +/- 4.68 mu g/L, and 1.21 +/- 0.72 mu g/L, respectively. The man ganese content of mononuclear blood cells from patients receiving TPN gradually decreased, falling below the lowest limit of the normal rang e by 21 weeks (95% confidence limits, 13-30 weeks) after starting TPN. Manganese concentrations in whole blood and plasma were within normal limits during our study period. These results suggest that the mangan ese content of mononuclear blood cells may better indicate manganese n utritional status than whole-blood or plasma concentrations.