Lithium (Li)


Indications

Lithium is one of the elements without enzymatic activity.

On the other hand, it has a real medicinal effect which is explained by its ability to compete at the active sites with other minerals such as potassium and sodium (at the level of synaptic membranes) or magnesium at the level of membranes ATP, inhibiting its conversion into cyclic AMP.

This leads to inhibition of the nerve impulse, which explains lithium's calming effect on the nervous system.

It also plays an endocrine normalising role by balancing adrenaline and noradrenaline levels.

It is also known to have an anti-epileptic effect.

The fact that it is only a substitute and not the eponymous catalyst of the nervous system explains the need to use it in small but very frequent doses.

The body considers it useless and eventually eliminates it.  Fortunately, because the toxic dose is easily reached.

Lithium deficiency

To maintain good health, trace elements must be present in the right proportions, it is not a question of quantity.

Our needs are generally covered by the food we eat, but they have been decreasing over the last two decades (soil depletion of trace elements, industrialisation of food, etc.).

However, our requirements are very low: we only need between 200 and 600 µg per day.

This trace element is essential for many biological reactions.

Our main source of lithium is drinking water, and it is enough for it to be particularly low in certain regions for us to develop deficiencies.

Lithium sources

In the water, fish and seafood.