Manganese content of soy or rice beverages is high in comparison to infant formulas

Objective: Well-meaning but inadequately informed parents may perceive plant-based beverages such as soy beverages (SB) or rice beverages (RB) as an alternative to infant formula. Manganese (Mn) is an essential mineral nutrient found at high levels in plants such as soy and rice. Excessive Mn exposure increases the risk of adverse neurological effects.Methods: We analysed, by atomic absorption spectrometry, the Mn content of 36 SB, 5 RB, 6 evaporated milks (EM), 14 soy-based infant formulas (SF) and 16 milk-based infant formulas (MF), obtained from commercial outlets in Ottawa, Canada.Results: SB had the highest levels of Mn (16.5 ± 8.6 μg/g dry wt, mean ± s.d.), followed by RB (9.9 ± 1.7 μg/g dry wt). Mn levels of individual SB/RB ranged from 2 to 17 times the mean Mn content of SF (2.4 ± 0.7 μg/g dry wt) and 7 to 56 times that of MF (0.70 ± 0.35 μg/g dry wt). EM contained very little Mn (0.02 ± 0.03 μg/g dry wt). Calculated mean Mn intakes from SB/RB by infants up to 6 months of age, assuming complete s...