Top 10 Lithium Orotate Benefits for Your Health

What Is Lithium Orotate

Lithium orotate is a compound which is made up of an alkali metal known as lithium which is the active ingredient, and orotic acid which acts as a transporter molecule. Orotic acid is naturally produced in the body. Lithium orotate is available in supplement form and is used as a natural treatment for a broad range of mental health illnesses. Lithium orotate is usually touted as an option to lithium, a drug which is prescribed to heal and prevent mania episodes in persons with bipolar illness.

 

How Does Lithium Orotate Work

For your body to utilize lithium, a transporter molecule must transport it. In case of lithium orotate, the transporter is vitamin B-13 (orotic acid), a compound that your body produces naturally.

Lithium orotate provides（5266-20-6） superior bio-utilization. This allows the mineral to penetrate through the cell’s intracellular structures, including the glia, lysosomes, and mitochondria.

Lithium helps in management of mental disorders by boosting chemical messenger’s activity in the brain.

Recent studies have shown that mood stabilization effects of lithium may be as a result of its ability to increase the rate of neurogenesis (production of new brain cells).

Lithium inhibits GSK-3β (enzyme glycogen synthase kinase-3β). The inhibition upregulates IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which commands neural stem cells to start producing new neurons.

Whenever neural stem cells produces new neurons, memory and mood function as designed. However, neurogenesis breakdown causes mood disorders. Lithium also works to protect your brain.

 

Lithium Orotate Half Life

The half life for Lithium Orotate is 24 hours.

 

Top 10 Benefits of Lithium Orotate

Discussed below are some of the most popular lithium orotate benefits;

 

1.  Low-dose lithium orotate boosts cognitive function

Lithium orotate（5266-20-6） has been proved to be neuroprotective and to boost cognitive function. Lithium seems to increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and this is essential in maintaining proper brain function.

Lithium orotate also has the ability to suppress the action of glycogen synthase kinase-3 that is involved in intracellular signaling. Lithium orotate supplement also inhibits calcium-dependent stimulation of pro-apoptotic signaling pathways. This means that it helps to reduce the rate of cell death.

 

2.  Boosting the Immune System

If you develop a superior immune system, your body is able to protect itself from external attacks from possibly harmful organisms. This assists to keep you protected against diseases.  Lithium boosts the immune system and provides strong defense against some kinds of harmful organisms.

The ability of Lithium orotate to boost the immune system results from its ability to lower the production of prostaglandins.  Prostaglandins are compounds which cause systemic swelling and redness in the body.

 

3.  Relieves Headaches

By promoting a calm and peaceful mind, lithium orotate does not only lower stress, but it also assist in relieving occasional headaches. One research suggests that lithium orotate have unparalleled efficiency for several types of occasional headaches.

 

4.  Promotes Longevity and Anti-Aging

As people age, we all encounter some kind of cognitive impairment. In simpler terms, your memory may worsen, or you may experience confusion feelings. Although common and normal, you may take some steps to maintain your brain healthy as you grow older. Since lithium orotate is also an antioxidant, having in mind that it assists in counteracting free radical’s effects in the brain and body, lithium may promote longevity and induce anti-aging effects.

 

5.  Lithium orotate reduces inflammation

Lowering inflammation in your body is one of the best things you can do to your health. Today, we encounter more environmental assaults, toxins, and foods, which increase inflammation levels and cause diseases. Research shows that lithium orotate lowers inflammatory proteins and raises the amount of anti-inflammatory proteins.

In one scientific study, lithium orotate seemed to show neuroprotective effects against the autoimmunity of the nervous system.

 

6.  Enhances Bone Health

Research suggests that supplementation with lithium enhances and preserves bone mass. Lithium also lowers the risk of bone fractures. Lithium orotate is also believed to assist in cartilage and bone healing.

 

7.  Treatment of Alcoholism

During a scientific study, 42 alcoholic addicts were treated with Lithium during alcoholism rehabilitation in a clinical setting for 6 months. Data was collected from the records of clinical practice for ten years after the initial study.

Patients were treated with 150 mg of Lithium Orotate per day for 6 months along with essential phospholipids, magnesium orotate, calcium orotate, and bromelain.

Among the patients, ten had no relapse from three to ten years. Thirteen patients were able to stay sober from one to three years.  The other patients relapsed between six to 12 months.

The scientists concluded that Lithium Orotate therapy was effective and safe in treating alcoholism with minor adverse side effects.

8.   Lithium reduces suicidal rates

In 1990, scientists decided to investigate the different amounts of lithium in the drinking water in 27 different Texas counties. They found out that counties which had the least amount of lithium in their drinking water had higher levels of suicidal rates. Counties that had the highest levels of lithium had 40 percent fewer suicidal rates!

A similar study was carried out in Japan in 2013. The study also realized that higher amounts of lithium in drinking water showed a significantly higher protective effect against suicidal risks in women.

 

9.  Sleep

Based on various preliminary cell and animal studies, some researchers have found out that lithium may show some notable positive effects on the body’s “master clock” or circadian rhythm which assists in regulation of digestion, sleep and other crucial daily processes and activities.

Particularly, lithium has been shown to make the circadian rhythm period longer. May help in the treatment of some sleep problems and other issues that may arise when the so called circadian rhythm is “desynchronized” from its usual 24-hour cycle.

Some researchers are also investigating whether lithium orotate  may assist in the activation of various proteins and genes which are involved in sleep-wake cycle. This cycle assists the body to stay “in sync” with day/night cycles. In other words, this could point to the ability of lithium in making your brain and body more sensitive to biological cues in a day.

Some clinical studies have shown that lithium drugs may enhance sleep in bipolar patients. Notwithstanding, this suggestion relates only to “high-dose” medicinal forms of lithium.

 

10.  Neuroprotection

Lithium orotate prevents apoptosis, boosts brain gray matter, boosts DNA replication for neurogenesis, increases NAA (N-acetyl-aspartate), suppresses beta-amyloid secretion. It also protects against brain cell damage once they are formed. The compound also protects against glutamate toxicity. All these actions contribute to neuroprotection and prevention against various brain associated illnesses.

 

Lithium orotate ADHD

Some clinical studies shows that lithium orotate may lower impulsive-aggressive behaviors linked to ADHD. However, scientists recommended that lithium prescription should only be given after other drugs have failed to work.

 

Lithium orotate weight loss

Though use of lithium orotate may lead to a decline in appetite, there is no enough clinical evidence to prove that lithium may be used to aid in weight loss.

 

What Is The Difference Between Lithium Orotate And Lithium

As mentioned earlier, Lithium orotate is a compound which is made up of an alkali metal known as lithium and orotic acid (a substance which is naturally produced in the body).  In simpler terms, lithium orotate is a combination of lithium and orotic acid. On the other hand, Lithium is simply an alkali metal and the active ingredient since orotic acid is only used as a transporter molecule that enables lithium to work.

 

Which Foods Contain Lithium Orotate?

Lithium is a light highly reactive metal found naturally in very low amounts throughout our bodies. It is also available as a supplement and is normally found in drinking water and in several foods such as meat, fish, cereals, nuts, mushrooms, dairy, vegetables, kelp, mustard, and pistachios. However if you want to have a great lithium orotate experience, you should consider buying an over-the-counter supplement which contains the right amount of lithium orotate.

 

How Long Does Lithium Orotate Take To Work?

Some people may ask, does lithium orotate work right away? The answer is no. It normally takes a few weeks for lithium orotate to start working. Your health care professional will carry out blood tests during the treatment. This is because lithium orotate may affect how well your thyroid or kidney function. It also functions best if the drug level in your body is maintained at a constant level.

 

Lithium Orotate Dosage

Lithium orotate dosage recommended for adults suffering from acute manic episodes bipolar illness is 1.8 gm or 20 to 30 mg/kg of lithium carbonate daily. The dose is divided into two to three dosages in case of severe depression or episodes of mania. To protect against another episode, the normal dose is 900 mg to 1200 mg daily in two to four divided dosages. 24-32 mEq solution of lithium citrate, given in two to four divided doses per day, has also been effective. Normal doses should not go beyond 65 mEq lithium citrate or 2.4 grams of lithium carbonate per day.

Stopping lithium orotate drugs at once raises the chances of re-occurrence of bipolar disorder symptoms. Lithium orotate dose should be decreased gradually over at least two weeks.

Lithium orotate dosage recommended for children with bipolar disorder is 15-60 mg/kg daily.

 

Lithium Orotate Side Effects

A small clinical study reported the following lithium orotate side effects:

• Reduction of appetite
• Mild symptoms of muscle weakness,
• Mild apathy
• Listlessness

However, these symptoms were seen in some patients who took  lithium orotate 150 mg per day. These symptoms were resolved following a decrease in lithium orotate dosage.

 

Lithium Orotate Anxiety

Lithium orotate anxiety prescription is sometimes recommended in combination with antidepressants when dealing with patients who have not successfully responded to antidepressants like SSRIs.

Early studies suggest that combining low lithium doses may also affect treatment of anxiety positively. One research involved 51 patients with anxiety who didn’t respond well to treatment with venlafaxine which is a common antidepressant drug. When low-dose lithium orotate was combined with their usual venlafaxine treatment, about 50% of the patients showed improvements in their symptoms.

Two other studies have shown that adding lithium orotate to specific types of antidepressants such as tricyclics and second-generation antidepressants including trazodone, bupropion, desipramine, and venlafaxine may assist enhance symptoms of anxiety in most patients.

 

Lithium Orotate Drug Interactions

Also, lithium orotate may interact with various medications including MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), ACE inhibitors, methyldopa, anticonvulsants, meperidine, antidepressants, loop diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and dextromethorphan.

Using lithium orotate in absence of a healthcare professional guidance is discouraged especially if you’re using other medications.

 

Lithium Orotate Supplement

Lithium orotate supplement is touted as a healthy and safe supplement for use as a source of low-dose lithium. The supplements are extracted from foods which are rich in lithium including meat, fish, cereals, nuts, mushrooms, dairy, vegetables, kelp, mustard, and pistachios. Lithium orotate supplement is available for sale online. However, you should read lithium orotate reviews from the buyers who bought the supplement from the online store before buying to make sure you’re buying the product from a legit supplier.

 

 

 

References:

1. Balon R. Possible dangers of a “nutritional supplement” lithium orotate. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2013;25(1):71.23376874 Barkins R. Low-dose lithium and its health supporting effects. Nutr Perspect. 2016;39(3):32-34.
2. Smith DF (April 1976). “Lithium orotate, carbonate, and chloride: pharmacokinetics, polydipsia and polyuria in rats”. British Journal of Pharmacology. 56 (4): 399–402.
3. Wilson, Edward N. (2020). “NP03, a Microdose Lithium Formulation, Blunts Early Amyloid Post-Plaque Neuropathology in McGill-R-Thy1-APP Alzheimer-Like Transgenic Rats”. J Alzheimers Dis. 73 (2): 723–739.

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