Research
Lithium (Low-Dose / Orotate)
53 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.
Studies
Sorted by quality and recency
Determining the best dose of lithium carbonate as adjuvant therapy to radioactive iodine for the treatment of hyperthyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of combining radioactive iodine (RAI) with lithium carbonate (LiCO3) for treating hyperthyroidism. Analysis of 14 studies with 2047 patients showed that RAI combined with LiCO3 significantly increased cure rates compared to RAI alone. LiCO3 also effectively reduced T4 levels without altering T3 levels.
Efficacy and Safety of Lithium for Behavioral and Cognitive Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease Dementia: A Systematic Review With Frequentist and Bayesian Meta-Analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of six RCTs involving 394 participants to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lithium in Alzheimer's disease dementia. Lithium did not significantly improve global cognition or functional outcomes, with mixed results for memory. Safety profile was acceptable, but no consistent cognitive or functional benefits were observed.
Lithium Exposure and Risk of Major Neurocognitive Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies with 377,060 subjects evaluating the association between lithium use and the risk of major neurocognitive disorders. The analysis found no significant association between lithium use and the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Lithium-associated hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between lithium use and hyperparathyroidism. The study found that lithium treatment increases the risk of hyperparathyroidism, with a pooled prevalence of around 4% compared to 0.5% in the healthy population. Lithium use is associated with higher calcium and PTH levels, and there is a high prevalence of multiglandular disease in lithium-associated hyperparathyroidism.
Lithium and disease modification: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of pre-clinical and clinical studies on lithium's neuroprotective effects in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Lithium treatment reduced amyloid-β and tau levels, improved cognitive behavior in AD animal models, increased tyrosine hydroxylase levels, and improved motor behavior in PD models. Positive effects were also noted in AD patients.
Lithium Therapy's Potential to Lower Dementia Risk and the Prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease: A Meta-Analysis.
Meta-analysis of seven studies assessing the effects of lithium therapy on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. Results indicate that lithium therapy reduces the risk of AD and dementia, with the duration of therapy affecting dementia incidence.
Safety and efficacy of lithium in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs investigating lithium in ALS patients. Four RCTs with 469 patients were included. Meta-analysis showed no significant differences between lithium and placebo regarding severe adverse events, survival rate, ALS functional rating scale, and forced vital capacity. Current evidence suggests a safety profile with no benefit of lithium for ALS.
The concentration of Lithium in water resources: A systematic review, meta-analysis and health risk assessment.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of lithium concentration in water resources, assessing health risks using the target hazard quotient (THQ). The study analyzed 76 papers, finding higher lithium concentrations in groundwater compared to surface water, with significant regional variations. Health risk assessments indicated potential risks in several countries, suggesting the need for monitoring and treatment processes.
Lithium and Stroke Recovery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Stroke Models in Rodents and Human Data.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of lithium's neuroprotective and regenerative effects in stroke models. In rodents, lithium treatment was associated with smaller stroke volumes, decreased apoptosis, and improved poststroke function. In humans, evidence is sparse and inconclusive, with some studies suggesting a lower risk of stroke among adults with bipolar disorder.
Comparative efficacy of lithium and aducanumab for cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Systematic review and network meta-analysis comparing the efficacy of lithium and aducanumab for cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Lithium was found to be significantly more effective than aducanumab in improving cognitive decline as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination.
Lithium carbonate as add-on therapy to radioiodine in the treatment on hyperthyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis investigating lithium carbonate (LiCO3) as an add-on therapy with radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism. The study included 477 patients in the intervention group and 451 in the control group. LiCO3 adjunct to radioactive iodine did not show significant differences in cure rate or T4 level compared to radioactive iodine alone, except for a potential increase in cure rate with a dose of 5000 to 6000 mg of LiCO3.
Risk of cancer in bipolar disorder and the potential role of lithium: International collaborative systematic review and meta-analyses.
Systematic review and meta-analyses examining bipolar disorder as a risk factor for cancer and the role of lithium on cancer incidence. The first meta-analysis found an increased risk of cancer, especially breast cancer, in individuals with bipolar disorder. The second meta-analysis suggested a potential protective effect of lithium on cancer, including urinary cancer, though findings were not statistically significant.
Lithium therapy and weight change in people with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of lithium therapy and weight change in people with bipolar disorder. The meta-analysis found that weight gain with lithium was not significant, with a weight increase of 0.462 Kg. Weight gain was significantly lower with lithium than with active comparators.
The association between lithium in drinking water and neuropsychiatric outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis from across 2678 regions containing 113 million people.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the association between lithium concentrations in drinking water and neuropsychiatric outcomes. Higher lithium concentrations were associated with reduced suicide rates and fewer psychiatric hospital admissions. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias were noted.
Risk of dementia in bipolar disorder and the interplay of lithium: a systematic review and meta-analyses.
Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the risk of dementia in bipolar disorder (BD) and the protective effect of lithium. BD increases the risk of dementia, while lithium treatment decreases this risk. Secondary findings indicate a higher risk of dementia progression in BD compared to major depressive disorder.
Relationship between suicide mortality and lithium in drinking water: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the relationship between lithium concentration in drinking water and suicide mortality in the general population. A significant relationship was found, with higher lithium concentrations associated with reduced suicide mortality. The analysis included 13 ecologic studies and one cohort study, covering 939 regions and 3,740,113 people.
Lithium for schizophrenia.
Meta-analysis of 22 studies with 763 participants assessing lithium as a treatment for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. Lithium alone showed no difference compared to placebo, but augmentation with antipsychotics showed some response, though effects were not significant when excluding biased studies. Overall methodological quality was low.
Lithium as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials tested lithium as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Lithium significantly decreased cognitive decline compared to placebo, with no significant differences in attrition, adverse events, or CSF biomarkers.
Lithium as an adjunct to radioactive iodine for the treatment of hyperthyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the safety and efficacy of adding lithium to radioactive iodine (RAI) for treating hyperthyroidism. Observational trials showed significant improvement in cure rate with adjunctive lithium, while interventional trials showed improvement but not statistically significant. Lithium reduced time to cure and blunted thyroid hormone excursions after RAI, with infrequent and mild side effects.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of lithium augmentation of tricyclic and second generation antidepressants in major depression.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of lithium augmentation in combination with tricyclic and second generation antidepressants for major depression. The analysis included nine trials with 237 patients, showing an odds ratio for response to lithium vs. placebo of 2.89, indicating efficacy. Adjunctive lithium was effective with both TCAs and second generation agents.
Lithium in the prevention of suicide in mood disorders: updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 48 RCTs with 6674 participants assessing lithium's effect on suicide prevention in mood disorders. Lithium was more effective than placebo in reducing suicides and deaths from any cause, but not in preventing deliberate self harm. Lithium showed a reduced risk of suicide and total deaths in unipolar depression compared to placebo.
Lithium versus antidepressants in the long-term treatment of unipolar affective disorder.
Meta-analysis comparing lithium to antidepressants for long-term treatment of recurrent unipolar affective disorder. Eight trials with 475 participants were included. Lithium showed a statistically significant difference in preventing relapse when considering all types of relapses, though results varied with different statistical models. No other significant differences were found between lithium and antidepressants.
Lithium in the prevention of suicidal behavior and all-cause mortality in patients with mood disorders: a systematic review of randomized trials.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials investigating the effect of lithium on suicide, deliberate self-harm, and all-cause mortality in patients with mood disorders. Lithium was found to reduce the risk of suicide, deliberate self-harm, and overall mortality compared to placebo and other treatments.
Lithium for schizophrenia revisited: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 RCTs (N=611) examining lithium in schizophrenia treatment. Lithium as a sole agent was ineffective, but augmentation with antipsychotics showed some responder benefits, though not consistent across thresholds. More patients left trials early with lithium, indicating lower acceptability.
Blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker changes in patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment treated with lithium: analysis from a randomised placebo-controlled trial.
RCT analyzing biomarkers in ART-treated individuals with moderate or severe HAND, comparing lithium to placebo over 24 weeks. Lithium did not confer neuroprotection, as no significant differences in biomarkers were observed between groups.
Revisiting global cognitive and functional state 13 years after a clinical trial of lithium for mild cognitive impairment.
This study re-evaluated older adults from a previous RCT of lithium for amnestic mild cognitive impairment after 11 to 15 years. Of the original 61 participants, 36 were reached, with 22 having received lithium. The lithium group showed better long-term cognitive outcomes, with higher Mini Mental State Examination scores and better performance in the Verbal Fluency Test compared to the placebo group.
Effects of lithium on serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Alzheimer's patients with agitation.
RCT measuring serum BDNF levels in Alzheimer's patients treated with low-dose lithium for agitation over 12 weeks. BDNF levels did not change significantly and were not associated with improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms or cognitive function.
Low Dose Lithium Treatment of Behavioral Complications in Alzheimer's Disease: Lit-AD Randomized Clinical Trial.
RCT evaluating low-dose lithium treatment for agitation in Alzheimer's disease. Lithium was not significantly superior to placebo for agitation/aggression, but showed greater global clinical improvement and safety. Improvement was noted in delusions and irritability/lability, suggesting potential benefits for behavioral symptoms overlapping with mania.
Lithium treatment for unipolar major depressive disorder: Systematic review.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trials assessing lithium treatment for unipolar major depressive disorder. Lithium was found to be more effective than placebo as an adjunct to antidepressants and for long-term maintenance treatment.
Lithium and suicide in mood disorders: Updated meta-review of the scientific literature.
Meta-review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effect of lithium on suicide and self-harm rates in mood disorders. The evidence overwhelmingly supports lithium as an antisuicidal agent, despite methodological concerns and heterogeneity in studies.
A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the adjuvant effect of lithium on radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism.
RCT evaluating lithium as an adjuvant in radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism in 350 patients. No significant difference in cure rates between the lithium and control groups. Mild to moderate side effects of lithium were reported by 10% of patients.
A Survey Exploring People's Experiences With Lithium Bought as a Supplement: Une enquête sur l’expérience des personnes avec le lithium en supplément
Cross-sectional survey of 211 adults taking over-the-counter lithium supplements. The study explored demographics, supplement details, and personal experiences, finding perceived benefits for cognition, anxiety, and mood, with mood being the most commonly reported improvement. Side effects and withdrawal phenomena were more prevalent than anticipated.
Lithium Exposure During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Safety and Efficacy Outcomes.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 29 studies assessing the safety and efficacy of lithium treatment during pregnancy and postpartum in women with bipolar disorder. Lithium use was associated with higher odds of congenital and cardiac anomalies, particularly with first-trimester exposure, but was effective in preventing postpartum mood relapse. Lower dosages were associated with fewer risks.
The effect of lithium in post-stroke motor recovery: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.
RCT evaluating the efficacy of lithium in early motor recovery of 80 patients after ischemic stroke. No significant differences were found in overall improvement, but a subgroup with cortical strokes showed better recovery with lithium. A larger trial is needed to confirm these findings.
Microdose lithium treatment stabilized cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
RCT evaluating the effect of a microdose of 300 μg lithium administered daily on Alzheimer's disease patients for 15 months. The treated group showed no decreased performance in the mini-mental state examination test, unlike the control group, suggesting the efficacy of microdose lithium in preventing cognitive loss.
Lithium and triiodothyronine augmentation of antidepressants.
RCT evaluating the augmentation of antidepressants with lithium, triiodothyronine (T3), or their combination in subjects with major depressive disorder. All groups improved significantly, but no significant differences were found between treatments and placebo.
Chemomicrobiome analysis of lithium ascorbate and other organic lithium salts
The study presents a chemomicrobiome analysis of various organic lithium salts, including lithium ascorbate, on human microbiota. Lithium ascorbate supported the growth of commensal bacteria more effectively and showed antibacterial properties against pathogenic bacteria compared to other lithium salts.
A randomized controlled pilot trial of lithium in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2.
A phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 48-week trial with lithium carbonate in 20 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). The primary objective was to determine safety and tolerability of lithium. A significant reduction in the BDI-II was observed for the lithium group, indicating a positive effect on mood.
Lithium augmentation compared with phenelzine in treatment-resistant depression in the elderly: an open, randomized, controlled trial.
An open, randomized, controlled trial comparing lithium augmentation to phenelzine in 29 elderly inpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Lithium showed higher remission rates and response compared to phenelzine, with good overall tolerability. Memory impairment was more common with phenelzine, while tremors were more common with lithium.
The efficacy of low-dose lithium: clinical, psychological and biological correlates.
Prospective double-blind study examining the effects of lithium dosage on affective morbidity, side-effects, thyroid and renal function, and biological markers in unipolar and bipolar patients. Lower lithium dosage was associated with fewer side-effects and lower TSH levels, but elderly patients experienced greater morbidity with reduced dosage.
Lithium Orotate: Breakthrough Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease?
Lithium orotate supplementation in Alzheimer's mouse models prevented pathological changes, restored synapses, and reversed memory loss. The study suggests lithium orotate may avoid kidney and thyroid toxicity associated with chronic carbonate use.
Human brain 7Li-MRI following low-dose lithium dietary supplementation in healthy participants.
The study used 7Li-MRI to detect lithium in the brain following low-dose lithium orotate supplementation in nine healthy adult males. The 7Li-MR signal amplitude was stable between days 14 and 28, with two subjects showing higher signal intensities. The methods are suitable for assessing low dose lithium administration in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Comparative Analysis of the Stress Protective Effect of Lithium Salts in an Open Field Test
Animal study examining the effects of various lithium salts on stress-related behavior in rats using an open field test. Organic lithium salts improved motivational behavior, reduced anxiety, and increased body weight gains under stress, with lithium orotate showing a pronounced anabolic effect.
Different pharmacokinetics of lithium orotate inform why it is more potent, effective, and less toxic than lithium carbonate in a mouse model of mania
The study compared the pharmacokinetics and effects of lithium orotate (LiOr) and lithium carbonate (LiCO) in a mouse model of mania. LiOr showed improved efficacy and potency with reduced adverse effects compared to LiCO, suggesting superior transport-mediated uptake.
A Toxicological Evaluation of Lithium Orotate.
The study conducted genetic toxicity tests and an oral repeated-dose toxicity test on lithium orotate to evaluate its safety. Lithium orotate was not mutagenic or clastogenic in vitro and did not exhibit in vivo genotoxicity in mice. In a 28-day oral toxicity study in rats, no toxicity or target organs were identified, establishing a no observed adverse effect level at 400 mg/kg body weight/day.
Lithium and tricyclic augmentation of fluoxetine treatment for resistant major depression: a double-blind, controlled study.
RCT of 41 patients with resistant major depression comparing high-dose fluoxetine, fluoxetine plus desipramine, and fluoxetine plus lithium. High-dose fluoxetine was the most effective treatment among partial responders, while high-dose fluoxetine and fluoxetine plus lithium were most effective among nonresponders.
Bioavailability of lithium from lithium citrate syrup versus conventional lithium carbonate tablets.
The study compared the bioavailability of lithium citrate syrup with regular lithium carbonate tablets in 18 healthy male volunteers. The absorption rate was faster for the syrup, but maximum serum concentrations were similar between the two forms. Both forms were found to be bioequivalent in terms of maximum serum concentration and extent of absorption.
Lithium orotate: A superior option for lithium therapy?
This narrative review discusses lithium orotate as a potential alternative to lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder treatment. It explores the compound's history, efficacy, mechanisms of action, adverse effects, and potential future in therapy.
A combined NMR crystallographic and PXRD investigation of the structure-directing role of water molecules in orotic acid and its lithium and magnesium salts
The paper investigates the structure-directing role of water molecules in orotic acid and its lithium and magnesium hydrate salts using NMR crystallography, PXRD, and TGA. It demonstrates the feasibility of this approach in characterizing hydrate systems and observes changes in hydrate structures after vacuum drying and storage under ambient conditions.
Platelet adenylate cyclase activity in depression and after clomipramine and lithium treatment: relation to serotonergic function.
The study measured adenylate cyclase activity in platelet membranes from healthy controls and depressed patients before and after treatment with clomipramine and lithium carbonate. No differences were found in adenylate cyclase activity between groups or treatments, except for a significant reduction in forskolin-stimulated activity after lithium supplementation.
The use of lithium salts in medicine and symptoms of the poisoning with them
The paper discusses the use of lithium salts as mood stabilizers in the treatment of affective disorders, particularly bipolar disorder, and the symptoms of lithium poisoning. It highlights lithium's mechanism of action, its therapeutic benefits, and the management of lithium intoxication.
Lithium and venlafaxine interaction: a case of serotonin syndrome
Case report of a 71-year-old woman who developed serotonin syndrome while receiving treatment with moderate doses of lithium and venlafaxine for refractory depression. The Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability algorithm indicated a probable relationship between serotonin syndrome and treatment with lithium and venlafaxine.
Lithium in the treatment of mania.
This review examines the comparative effects of lithium and neuroleptics, and the combination of lithium with haloperidol, carbamazepine, and L-tryptophan in the treatment of mania. It discusses the advantages of combining lithium with carbamazepine for manic states refractory to lithium alone.