Lithium, the Trace Mineral for Depression, Bi-Polar and More

 

This article was updated on March 18, 2023.

For more health and nutrition information, sign up for my substack https://trufoods.substack.com, as not all information is posted on my blog. 

 

When you hear the word Lithium, you probably think of the drug. But did you know that Lithium is a trace mineral that we need in small amounts?

Lithium in its natural form may be an effective strategy to help you with depression and other health conditions.

I am not talking about lithium carbonate, often given to bipolar patients in high doses such as 300 mg. or more, and comes with a host of side effects, including impaired thyroid function, kidney and cardiac dysfunction, weight gain, and other side effects. From what I hear from those who have been on lithium carbonate, they don’t want to continue taking it because they “don’t like how it makes them feel.”

Lithium, the Trace Mineral, NOT Lithium, the Drug

Lithium, an ultra-trace mineral, was discovered in 1817 by John Arftvedson of Sweden. Lithium is usually sourced from hard rock mining or extraction from mineral-rich brines. Agro-mining, another option, is being explored, which uses plants to abstract the trace element from the soil, which accumulates in the above-ground parts of the plant. (3,4)

Lithium, even though we need small amounts, it is an essential nutrient that we need. If levels in the body are low, it can increase the risk of depression, volatile mood, aggressive behavior, and suicide. (2)

Since it is an ultra-trace mineral, we don’t need much, but like other trace minerals, we do need some. Finding the right amount you need is the key. It is the lightest metal and is known to benefit those with mental health issues.

In fact, from 1929-1950, 7-Up contained Lithium. It used the slogan “It takes the Ouch out of the Grouch.” (5) A little lithium trivia-the 7 in “7-Up supposedly represents the rounded-up atomic weight of lithium which is 6.9. and the “up” supposedly suggests its power to lift the spirits. (5)

But Lithium has also gained negative attention from movies such as “One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and from its use of it in medicinal form and its severe side effects. (3) It has been used for over 60 years for bipolar disorder and is often used as the first line of treatment for this illness. (7)

But we should not get high doses of Lithium, the drug, confused with micro-dosing of Lithium in its natural state.

Where to Find Naturally Sourced Lithium

Lithium can be found in some food sources, such as vegetables and grains, and in smaller amounts in eggs and milk. (1, 5) The US EPA has estimated that the daily lithium intake of an average adult ranges from about .65 to 3 mg. (5) However, because of your processed diet, most people will get their Lithium from tap water, and this will depend on your geographical location. (5)

Lithium is ubiquitous but unevenly distributed in our soil and water, so some may be getting more while others are not. Otherwise, after tap water, shellfish is the best source of Lithium, followed by coffee, tea, grains such as rice, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, then potatoes, eggs, and fish. (8)

We all need some lithium in our diet, with the average person needing roughly 1 mg. per day. (11)

Food sources: nuts (8.8 mcg/per gram serving), shellfish (3.1 mcg/g.), vegetables (2.3 mcg/g), dairy (0.5 mcg/g). Half a cup of nuts or 200 grams of shellfish will have roughly .6 mg of Lithium. (11)
A quarter liter of black tea has about .58-1.35 mcg of Lithium. (11)

Please note that these amounts can vary based on the soil it grew in. Dry areas, such as Texas, are higher in Lithium. It can vary from one town to the next. Los Angeles water supply averages about .5 mcg of Lithium per liter, while in nearby Orange County, the water can have as much as 10 mcg. Per liter. (11)

Those who use a water filter system may still be getting Lithium in their water. For instance, since Lithium is a mineral, the purification elements in the Berkey filtration system do not remove it since it does not remove minerals from the water. From my understanding, Lithium would be removed from the water if you use a reverse osmosis system.

Natural Lithium for Mood Disorders
Does it Work?

Studies have shown that water with the lowest lithium content is associated with higher criminal activity and suicide. Having natural levels of Lithium in our water supply may have a protective effect against those who need additional mental health support. (1)

A study in Texas found that the population with the highest amount of lithium intake (up to 2 mg. per day) had a lower incidence of homicide, suicide, and arrests for drug use and criminal behavior.

As I stated above, hearing the word lithium can evoke memories of “old-time” mental health institutions, or you may think of its severe side effects and lobotomies. This is lithium carbonate, and many psychiatrists still hesitate to prescribe Lithium due to its toxicity and side effects in the pharmaceutical dose (5).

But these effects are nonexistent when Lithium is used in a low-dose nutritional supplement. Lithium in the supplement form may be helpful for those with ADHD, depression, rage, outbursts, and depression and may even be beneficial for alcoholism, Parkinson’s, and dementia. (5)

Human studies on the benefits of microscopic amounts of Lithium are lacking, but studies done in animals suggest that brain injuries may be another beneficial area for using Lithium. In these studies, it has been shown to “reduce neuronal death and preserve the blood-brain barrier integrity, mitigate neurological deficit and psychiatric disturbance and improve learning and memory outcome.” (6)

There is still not as much known about the mechanism of action versus what we know about other nutrients. Research suggests that Lithium works by altering signaling pathways and gene expression in the CNS. (7)

For benefits, low-dose lithium orotate should be used long-term (if not taking any contraindicated medications).

Natural Lithium can also increase telomere length, which helps to preserve physical and mental health. The longer you take Lithium, the mineral, the more regular the length of your telomeres. (3) (telomere length has been associated with the aging process-so. The longer your telomeres, the slower your body will age).

Telomeres are made up of repeating DNA sequences. Once they shorten, further cellular replications are prevented, leading to the cell’s aging. (10). Most people describe telomeres as the plastic caps on the end of your shoe- laces-caps that you want long, not short. What can cause your telomeres to shorten include childhood stressors, diet, and lifestyle factors.

Lithium and Your Brain

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), essential to brain function, is associated with the survival of nerve cells whose expression is enhanced by long-term lithium supplementation. (6, 7). BDNF is a protein found primarily in the brain, and studies suggest that those with depression also have lower levels of BDNF.

BDNF plays a vital role in the development of brain plasticity. Mood disorders are associated with the methylation of BDNF. Major depression can lower BDNF levels and is linked with hippocampal shrinkage. This shrinkage can also help to explain some of the cognitive impairments that are symptoms of depression. (16) The hippocampus size is linked with memory.

Dr. Greenblatt states that there are at least three studies that have demonstrated that Lithium decreases DNA methylation of the BDNF gene promoter, thus increasing the expression of the BDNF gene (16)

Supporting your gut health, eating a whole foods diet, and adding exercise can also improve your BDNF levels. But using low-dose lithium supplementation can be a valuable tool to support BDNF.

Low-dose lithium has also increased serotonin turnover and enhanced serotonin neurotransmission. This is not surprising when we learn that Lithium is required for many hormones, enzymes, vitamins, and growth factors to work. It also supports your nervous and immune systems. (11) It may also be a reason why some studies suggest that Lithium can help prevent suicides (12, 13)

Lithium and Inflammation

In mental health issues such as bipolar (BP), inflammation is often a component of the illness. In BP, there can be an increase in inflammatory markers in the frontal cortex of the brain. In these people, there often is also an increase in the enzymes that regulate the expression of the Omega 6 fatty acid derived from arachidonic acid (which is inflammatory). In animal studies, they compared lithium-laced food with foods without lithium. They found that after 6 weeks, the lithium-laced fed animals had less arachidonic acid and more DHA (an anti-inflammatory metabolite of fish oil), which is known to block several inflammatory proteins in the brain. (8)

Lithium has been researched not only for depression and bipolar but also for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Huntington’s, and other inflammatory neurotoxic diseases. (7,8)

Lithium and Alcoholism

At times depression and other mental health issues can go hand in hand with excessive drinking, binge drinking, and alcoholism. A study found that those who craved alcohol could maintain an alcohol-free lifestyle longer when taking lithium orotate. In this study, 42 alcoholics were given 150 mg. of lithium orotate daily for 6 months. About one-third of the patients went one to three years without a relapse, and one-fourth went 3 to 10 years without a relapse. (14) It is still difficult to say if they would have maintained sobriety without Lithium, but it could be a safe addition for alcoholics.

Lithium Side Effects and Who Should Avoid It

Again, we are talking about Lithium in small doses in its natural state, not as a drug, but as a supplement that can also be found in tap water and some foods. Small doses are essential. You may think you need more for your condition but start with a small amount, as large quantities can cause dizziness, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

If you are pregnant, nursing, or under 18, and on medications, you should discuss taking Lithium first with your health care professional. (9)
In addition, you should avoid Lithium if you have kidney disease, CVD, or are taking an ACE inhibitor. (9)

However, some of these reported cautions are still based on Lithium in high doses via medication. Thus the same toxicity from Lithium may not be an issue at these microdoses. But still, always err on the side of caution, start with a low dose, and discuss usage with your healthcare provider.

For instance, even though the bottle of Lithium contains warnings if you have kidney disease, they did not find any effects on kidney function in a 4-year low-dose study on 61 elderly patients with cognitive issues. But they found some TSH elevations, which is your thyroid stimulating hormone, which you don’t want to be elevated as this can be a sign of hypothyroidism. (15) . This is a reminder to work with a health professional to determine if Lithium is a safe and sound option to try for you. You may also want specific lab markers reviewed continuously by your healthcare professional on Lithium.

The standard form of Lithium in supplement form is lithium orotate, and some other supplements also come in the orotate form. While zinc orotate is not as common as some other forms, it can be found in the orotate form, and so can magnesium and calcium. If you take other orotate supplements, you could end up with too much orotic acid at once. Thus, read the labels of the supplements you are taking.

Products to Try

Biotics Research makes two lithium products, one with 50 micrograms of Lithium from vegetable culture and another containing 150 mcg from vegetable culture. Other brands dosing ranges from 5 mg in Progressive Labs and Pure Encapsulation brand to 10 mg in Ortho Molecular and 20 mg in Vital Nutrients-all in one capsule serving.

Lithium orotate, via several different brands, also offers superior bio-utilization, allowing the mineral to penetrate the intracellular structures of cells and helping to boost brain and mental health. When looking at a bottle of Lithium orotate, you will see elemental Lithium (EL) written on it. There are about 4 mcg. of elemental Lithium per 100 mcg dose of orotate. (11) Lithium as a drug will contain around 19 mg. of EL per 100 mg of lithium carbonate. The doses are typically around 900 to 1800 mg per day, giving you around 170-340 mg of EL per day, so very different than taking it in supplemental form since the dosing of the drug is about 30 times stronger, making toxicity an issue. (11)

Some supplements contain lithium citrate or aspartate salts (11). (lithium carbonate is the prescription form).

Some say that Lithium in the orotate form is best for crossing the blood-brain barrier; others beg to differ, but most of the research is on the orotate form.
Taking lithium orotate or from the vegetable culture in small doses is not toxic.
There is no RDA for lithium intake.

Most lithium supplements are meant to be taken once daily, but some individuals may need to dose 2 times per day.

If you purchase a lithium product independently without going through a holistic nutritional professional, remember that not all supplements include what they say. There are many cheap and inferior products on the market. I also, for various reasons, do not suggest buying your supplements (any of them) from Amazon. For instance, many professional-grade supplements purchased from Amazon may be fakes.

So if you buy a lithium product from a poor source and it doesn’t help, you realize that it may not be the Lithium that isn’t helping but that the product is inferior.

Bottom Line

Lithium, the trace mineral, may be an excellent addition to your supplement regimen if you are dealing with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and angry outbursts. It is still best to work with a health professional who can guide you with dosing and will consider your other supplements, medications, and health issues to determine if Lithium is a good fit for you.

Most of the testing for Lithium is to determine if there is a toxicity issue from the use of Lithium, the medication, not to choose if levels are low. Since that is the case, I suggest doing an HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis) test to look at numerous elements, including Lithium, if you want to know your current levels.

The site www.lowdoselithium.com may be a good site to check out if you want to know more about Lithium, the mineral.

Have you tried Lithium in supplement form? Did it help you?  I would love to hear from you!

Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11838882
2. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/lithium-levels-in-drinking-water-and-risk-of-suicide/
3. https://blog.bioticsresearch.com/lighten-up-with-lithium
4. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/2/56/htm
5. https://www.greatplainslabratory.com/articles-1/2017/1/23/lithium-the-untold-story-of-the-magic-mineral-that-charges-cell-phones-and-preserves-memory
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4063503/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3172812/
8. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201201/could-you-have-lithium-deficiency
9. https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/lithium-orotate
10. https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2016/12/research-update/page-01
11. https://selfhacked.com/blog/the-benefits-of-lithium/
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23312137
13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863886/
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3718672
15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25093483
16. https://www.zrtlab.com/blog/archive/nutritional-lithium-deficiency-genes-mental-health/