Michael Nehls, PhD recently published a book titled, “The Conspiracy Against Lithium: The Suppressed Essential Nutrient and its Benefits for Mental Health”. Here are a few points about this important topic.
Lithium is a naturally occurring trace mineral that is essential to all of life. Trace lithium occurs in drinking water, plants, algae, and seafood. However, in many regions natural levels are so low that people are chronically deficient. Deficiencies in lithium have been associated with depression, anxiety, insomnia, suicide, greater sensitivity to chronic pain, greater sensitivity to stress, reduction in ability to remember and learn, and Alzheimer’s.
To increase the amount of lithium in our bodies, the two most common supplements in use are lithium carbonate and lithium orotate.
Lithium carbonate
Lithium carbonate is best known for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Lithium is combined with the inorganic substance carbonic acid. Its been in use for over 70 years in psychiatry, but poses difficulty in managing its utility due to the need for careful monitoring. It requires a prescription to use and has a history of producing serious adverse events.
Lithium orotate
Lithium is combined with the organic substance orotic acid. It is sold as a supplement and is available over the counter. Organic mineral supplements typically have superior efficacy and less side effects and require much lower doses compared to inorganic mineral supplements.
How they compare
After ingestion, the digestive system quickly breaks the carbonate and orotate bonds and releases elemental (pure) lithium. Its the pure lithium that produces all the beneficial effect. For each 100 mg of lithium carbonate, there is approximately 20mg of pure lithium. For each 100mg of lithium orotate there is approximately 4 mg of pure lithium.
Safety Issues
In over 40 years of use of lithium orotate worldwide, there has only been one reported adverse event when a woman mistakenly took 1700mg (which is equivalent to 68mg of pure lithium). After 3 hours of nausea and mild tremors, she recovered completely.
The FDA recommends 600mg-1800mg lithium carbonate (approximately 120mg-360mg pure lithium) for the treatment of bipolar disorder and careful monitoring of blood levels. With these very high doses there is a long list of potential side effects, including kidney failure and irreversible brain damage.
Dose equivalents
One 5mg tablet of lithium orotate has about 0.2mg of pure lithium. A tablet of 150mg equates to about 6mg of pure lithium. These are microdoses compared to the 120mg of pure lithium required for the lowest dose for bipolar.
Benefits of lithium orotate
1) It is inexpensive and can be purchased without prescription at a health food store
2) Taking 25mg equates to 1mg of pure lithium. This microdose is considered by scientists to be the minimal daily dose for general health and prevention of neuroinflammation.
3) A 1986 study proved it usefulness for alcoholism. The dose was 150mg daily for 6 months.
4) The standard dose recommended by alternative health practitioners is a single tablet of 120mg a day (equivalent to 5mg of pure lithium). This dose has been shown to reverse brain fog associated with Long- COVID.
5) Higher levels of natural lithium in public drinking water are associated with lower rates of suicide.
6) A survey of 211 participants who took 10mg of lithium orotate per day reported improved cognition and mood.
Where do I buy it?
Due to the fact that the supplement industry is poorly regulated, one must be cautious about where they buy it. I recommend getting lithium orotate directly from suppliers that guarantee high quality and purity. Large box stores and Amazon are unable to offer this guarantee and there have been cases where fakes have been sold.
Brands that are believed to be the most reliable:
Pure 5mg
Swanson 5mg
Doctors Best 5mg
Advanced Research 120mg
Why isn’t lithium already part of our basic healthcare?
Answer: Because its a naturally occurring trace mineral that cannot be patented. Also, despite the data, lithium is not officially recognized as essential by the health authorities. There is no money in prevention.