Manganese is an element that is thought to possibly prevent some of E. coli's serious effects. So far the studies have only been conducted on mice, but the results are promising.
* The studies conducted on mice involve a compound made by E. coli known as Shiga toxin. The mice were exposed to lethal doses. When treated with manganese, these suffered no ill effects related to the toxin.
* Researchers believe the results would carry over to humans. They feel that manganese would be effective in treating Shiga toxin in humans as it was in mice.
* "Manganese is inexpensive," said Adam Linstedt, study researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, according to MyHealthNewsDaily . "An inexpensive, accessible treatment -- not a designer drug -- is the ideal solution because Shiga toxin infections plague so many people in developing nations."
* The doses of manganese used in the study were low because in high doses, this element can be toxic itself. Toxicity associated with this element generally develops over time and at its worst can cause permanent neurological problems such as difficulty walking, tremors and facial muscle spasms. Psychiatric symptoms such as aggressiveness, irritability and hallucinations are also possible.
* Shiga toxin can cause a variety of issues ranging from severe kidney complications to mild intestinal disease. Antibiotics have not been shown to be effective in helping with this illness.
* "In a mouse experiment, mice exposed to a high dose of Shiga toxin and treated with nontoxic doses of manganese were 100 percent resistant to the toxin. Those not treated with manganese died within three to four days," reports My Health News Daily.
* To prevent acquiring Shiga toxin, all poultry and meats should be cooked thoroughly. Unpasteurized dairy products and raw milk should not be consumed. Hand washing is also critical, especially following food preparation, eating, diaper changing and using the bathroom.
* Manganese is known as a trace element from a nutritional standpoint and it plays a role in physiologic function. Humans need it because it helps in the following: antioxidant function, bone development, metabolism and wound healing.
* "The researchers also believe that manganese might be able to be used in conjunction with antibiotics. Currently, if an infected person is given an antibiotic, the antibiotic kills the bacteria that produce the toxin. This releases the toxin in larger amounts and causes a higher percentage of patients to die. Linstedt believes that they can use manganese to block the toxin and an antibiotic to kill the bacteria, making for an extremely effective therapy," reports KTVN.
R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen began her career in health care in 2002, when she began nursing school. She is now a full-time medical writer with expertise in a variety of health fields, specifically trauma, public health, cancer, infectious disease, women's health, and research. She combines her education, experience, and passion for health and medicine to influence her writing.
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