SynthesisNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026
Manganese concentrations in biological matrices and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Trace Elements Dyshomeostasis and Toxic Metals Neurotoxicity in Neurodegenerative Diseases.Biological trace element research · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundManganese (Mn) is an essential but neurotoxic trace element implicated in neurodegenerative disorders. Its association with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether Mn concentrations differ between ALS patients and healthy controls.
methodsWe systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus for observational studies comparing Mn concentrations between ALS patients and healthy controls. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the I² statistic, and publication bias was evaluated by Egger's test.
resultsTwelve studies (446 ALS cases, 652 controls) measuring Mn in blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hair, urine, toenail, plasma, or tissue were included. The pooled SMD was 0.05 (95% CI: - 0.20 to 0.30; p = 0.68; I² = 71.7%), indicating no significant difference in Mn concentrations. Subgroup analyses by biological matrix and analytical method showed no consistent pattern; meta-regression identified analytical method as a significant source of heterogeneity.
conclusionNo publication bias was detected (Egger's p = 0.53). Peripheral Mn concentrations do not differ significantly between ALS patients and controls. Future research should employ longitudinal and CNS-targeted approaches, incorporating occupational exposure assessment and standardized analytical protocols.
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