Abstract

Manganese Supplementation in Deer under Balanced Diet Increases Impact Energy and Contents in Minerals of Antler Bone Tissue

“…Thus, because Mn2+ can substitute Ca2+ in the apatite lattice [ 28 ], at first glance one may think that the effect of Mn supplementation may be caused by its storing in the skeleton. However, despite the fact that 25% of Mn in human body is stored in this way [ 29 ], it is a coenzyme for glycosyltransferases, which create glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and sulfonases, which sulfate these molecules in the final step to produce proteoglycans [ 29 , 30 ]. One of the main GAGs is chondroitin sulphate, the major constituent of cartilage, so that it is long known that Mn deficiency reduces cartilage growth by impairing chondroitin sulphate and other GAG biosynthesis [ 16 , 30 ] In addition to the study by our group in 2010 [ 4 ], we do not know of other studies showing how this affects bone mechanical properties, but in arteries, Mn deficiency has been shown to affect mechanical properties by affecting GAG biosynthesis and sulfation [ 29 , 31 ].…”

“…Thus, it is not surprising that the most important mechanical property influenced by Mn supplementation has been impact energy and, to a lesser extent, work to peak force. GAGs are highly polar and attract water, so that they affect particularly elastic properties and this is the reason why they are particularly important in arteries and why Mn affects cardiovascular disease in humans [ 29 ]. However, the closest evidence to the effect of Mn in a mechanical property similar to impact energy is not found within humans or mammals, but in birds.…”