At present lithium is most popular for its use in rechargeable batteries. But for decades lithium has also been used to treat various psychological diseases such as depressions, manias and bipolar disorders. It is well known that lithium lightens moods and reduces aggression potential. (1)
For most people, the word 'lithium' suggests images of mental unrest, imbalance, or overt mental illness. This is because societal perception of lithium for the last 100 years has almost exclusively been defined by its use in high doses to treat bipolar disorder and various forms of mental illness. (2)
A lithium requirement in human and animal nutrition is much less publicized and rarely discussed in Western medicine though it is fairly common knowledge among those involved in nutritional trace element research.
A paper by Timothy Marshall does an admirable job of pulling together over 53 references to research papers published between 1978 and 2015 that show that lithium, like many other elements is an essential nutrient required for life. (2)
Lithium is a naturally occurring element, not a 'developed' molecule like most medications. It was approved by the FDA for the treatment of bipolar disorder in 1970 and has shown to be effective for treating mood disorders and suicidal thoughts. Previous studies suggest that at low doses lithium has a protective effect in other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Huntington's. (3)
Lithium is found in variable amounts in foods; primary sources are grains and vegetables; in some areas the drinking water also provides significant amounts of the element. In humans, defined lithium deficiency diseases have not (yet) been characterized, but low lithium intake from water supplies were associated with increased rates of suicides, homicides and arrest rates for drug use and other crimes. (2)
In a 2002 review, researchers looked at silicon, aluminum, arsenic and lithium, and their effect on human health and disease. The purpose was to take all of the research to date on these 'ultra-trace minerals' and determine their overall nutritional significance and impact on human health, taking into their account their possible toxic effects. The researchers concluded that silicon and lithium have protective roles in human nutrition while aluminum and arsenic have notably toxic effects. (4)
Other Benefits
One study reports that a regular uptake of lithium can considerably promote longevity. Scientists analyzed the mortality rate in 18 adjacent Japanese municipalities in relation to the amount of lithium contained in tap water from the respective regions. The mortality rate was considerably lower in those municipalities with more lithium in the drinking water. Even though the underlying mechanism still remains to be clarified, the scientists assume that the higher longevity they observed in humans as well as in nematodes can be induced by the trace element lithium. (5)
Lithium profoundly prevents the aggression of toxic proteins and cell loss associated with Parkinson's disease in a mouse model of the condition. The mice were fed levels of lithum that were at the low end of the therapeutic range. The possibility that lithium could be effective in Parkinson's patients at sub-clinical levels is exciting, because it could avoid many side effects associated at the higher dosage range. (6)
Another report says that lithium restores neurogenesis in the hippocampus, a part of the brain strongly associated with learning and memory. Lithium also significantly improved the performance of Down Syndrome mice in tasks measuring conjectural learning, spatial memory and object discrimination. (7)
A mood stabilizer used to treat bipolar affective disorders may also help treat acute kidney injury. A low dose of lithium promotes kidney repair and accelerates the recovery of kidney function. (8)
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Drawbacks
Lithium does have a serious drawback- toxicity. Overuse of lithium has been linked to hyperthyroidism and kidney toxicity. (6) In a continued effort to find a safer form of lithium, researchers have discovered that lithium salicylate, an alternative salt form might be the answer. Researchers concluded that lithium salicylate could be more effective than lithium carbonate, yet without the accompanying risks of toxicity, a potentially important development in the next generation of lithium therapeutics. (9)
References
Josef Lichtinger et al., "Position sensitive measurement of lithium traces in brain tissue with neutrons," Medical Physics, 2013; 40 (2):023501
2. Timothy M. Marshall, "Lithium as a nutrient," Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 20, Number 4, Winter 2015
3. Carol A. Lazzara et al., "The combination of lithium and I-dopa/carbidopa reduces MPTP-induced abnormal involuntary movements via calpain-1 inhibition in a mouse model,: relevance for Parkinson' disease therapy," Brain Research, 2015; 1622:127
4. Perez-Granados et al., "Silicon, aluminum, arsenic and lithum: essentiality and human health implications," J. Health Aging, 2002:6:154-162
5. Kim Zarse et al., "Low-dose lithium uptake promotes longevity in humans and metazoans," European Journal of Nutrition, 2011, DOI:10.1007/s00394-011-0171-x
6. Buck Institute for Aging Research, "Lithium profoundly prevents brain damage associated with Parkinson's disease, mouse study suggests," Science Daily, June 24, 2011
7. Andrea Contestabile et al., "Lithium rescues synaptic plasticity and memory in Down Syndrome mice," Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2012; DOI:10.1172/jci164650
8. H. Bao et al., "Delayed administration of a single dose of lithium promotes recovery from AKI," Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 2014; DOI;10.1681/ASN.2013040350
9. Adam J. Smith et al., "Plasma and brain pharmacokinetics of previously unexplored lithium salts," RSC Advances, 2014:4 (24)
Jack Dini is author of Challenging Environmental Mythology. He has also written for American Council on Science and Health, Environment & Climate News, and Hawaii Reporter.
At present lithium is most popular for its use in rechargeable batteries. But for decades lithium has also been used to treat various psychological diseases such as depressions, manias and bipolar disorders. It is well known that lithium lightens moods and reduces aggression potential. (1)
For most people, the word 'lithium' suggests images of mental unrest, imbalance, or overt mental illness. This is because societal perception of lithium for the last 100 years has almost exclusively been defined by its use in high doses to treat bipolar disorder and various forms of mental illness. (2)
