The B vitamin is known to reduce the harmful effects of manganese on the nervous system, which can lead to symptoms that are similar to those of Parkinson’s disease. This vitamin boosts dopamine production in the brain, offering substantial potential for therapeutic applications.
Manganese is a crucial mineral required for numerous bodily functions, but both its deficiency and excessive intake can lead to health problems. For most people, a well-rounded diet provides enough manganese; however, too much exposure can be toxic, particularly affecting the central nervous system. Long-term exposure to manganese can lead to a condition called manganism, which manifests symptoms that are similar to Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors, muscle rigidity, and cognitive issues.
Recent research published in Science Signaling utilizes model systems and human nerve cells to uncover how manganese damages the central nervous system. The findings also indicate that the vitamin biotin could offer some protective effects, potentially reducing damage from manganese.
“Neurotoxic metals like manganese have been associated with the onset of Parkinsonism,” stated Sarkar Souvarish, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) within the Departments of Environmental Medicine and Neuroscience, and the leading author of the study. “In our research, we used untargeted metabolomics along with high-resolution mass spectrometry and sophisticated cheminformatics computing within a newly formed model of parkinsonism, leading us to identify biotin metabolism as a factor influencing manganese-related neurodegeneration.”
Examining how manganese harms the brain
Long-term exposure to manganese in workplace environments and through certain rural water supplies, especially from welding fumes, raises the risk of developing Parkinsonian syndrome, which has neurological symptoms that, while related, differ from Parkinson’s disease. Manganese is believed to bind with the alpha-synuclein protein, leading it to misfold and accumulate in the brain.
Researchers created a model using the fruit fly Drosophila to simulate occupational exposure to manganese in humans. They discovered that manganese caused motor issues, dysfunction in mitochondria and lysosomes, neuronal loss, and a shorter lifespan in the flies.
The team verified these results with human dopaminergic neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and showed that manganese exposure specifically harms these cells. The decline of dopamine-producing cells is a characteristic symptom of both Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsonian syndrome.
Could biotin be the solution?
The findings suggest that biotin, a B vitamin produced by gut bacteria, may increase dopamine production in the brain. Supplementing with biotin reversed neurotoxicity in both flies and iPSC-derived neurons, enhancing mitochondrial function and lessening cell loss.
This discovery aligns with the increasing understanding that Parkinson’s disease is a complex disorder affecting multiple systems, with initial symptoms often appearing in the gut, and that variations in the gut microbiome might play a role in the illness.
“Biotin supplementation has potential as a therapeutic approach to ease manganese-related neurodegeneration. Its safety and well-tolerance in humans make it a compelling option for further investigation,” Souvarish remarked. “Providing prebiotics rich in biotin or probiotics that generate biotin may offer non-drug intervention strategies, although further research is needed.”
Co-authors of this study include Pablo Reina-Gonzalez from URMC, Gali Maor from Harvard University, and Yunjia Lai and Gary W. Miller from Columbia University. The research received funding from the National Institutes of Health.
