Lithium

Requirements:

• RDA:
  
  None
• Average Intake (in US):
  
  100 mcg./day

Supplement Forms:

• Elemental lithium
• Lithium carbonate

Food Sources:

• Beef liver
• Eggplant
• Grains
• Leafy vegetables
• Legumes
• Potatoes
• Seafood
• Tomatoes
• Yeast

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• Very rare

Causes of Deficiency:

• May be due to genetic defect

Adverse Reactions and Toxicity:

• Adverse reactions can be prevented by supplementing EFAs with lithium
• Do not take lithium if there is a significant cardiovascular or renal disease, pregnant or lactating, or dehydration
• May cause:
  
  Nephrotoxicity
  Tremors
  Visual loss
• May induce hypothyroidism
• Serum lithium levels must be monitored

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Increases renal excretion of sodium, low sodium diets are contraindicated when taking lithium
• Interacts with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics
• Lithium effectiveness in treating bipolar disorder may be reduced by magnesium supplementation

Biochemical Functions:

• Animal studies show infertility, lower growth and survival rates with low lithium diets
• May activate glucocorticosteroid receptors
• May affect production of cAMP

Clinical Indications:

• Herpes simplex
• Nutritional therapy (5 - 10 mg./day of elemental lithium):
  
  Depression
  PMS
  Idiopathic neutropenia
• Pharmacological therapy (300 - 900 mg./day of lithium carbonate):
  
  Asthma
  Bipolar disorder
  Cluster headaches
  Gout
  Alcohol recidivism
  Hyperthyroidism (use with iodine)
  Uric acid kidney stones

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).