Lithium Orotate is attracting increasing interest as a potential supplement. While research is still in its early stages, studies are beginning to explore what it might offer, what we know about it, and what questions remain for the future.
What is Lithium Orotate?
Lithium orotate is a compound combining lithium with orotic acid. Unlike lithium carbonate or lithium chloride, which are well-studied and prescribed in clinical psychiatry, lithium orotate is mainly available as a wellness supplement. Advocates suggest its potential roles in supporting mood balance and brain health. However, it is important to note that mainstream health authorities, such as the NHS, do not currently recommend it as an essential supplement[1]. The evidence base is still limited, and more robust clinical studies are needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
What the Latest Research Shows
Research into lithium orotate is still in its early stages, but momentum is building. Consumer surveys report perceived benefits such as mood improvement or cognitive clarity[2], though these remain anecdotal and cannot substitute for clinical trial evidence. Scientists remain cautious, highlighting uncertainties around dosage, absorption, and safety compared to established lithium salts.
Lithium in the Environment and Global Health
An important related area of study concerns lithium in natural water sources. Populations living in regions with higher lithium content in drinking water sometimes show different mental health trends, including lower suicide rates. While these findings are correlational rather than causal, they highlight the need to examine lithium exposure at a population scale.
Research at King's College London has suggested that naturally occurring lithium in drinking water may positively influence mental health outcomes at the community level[3]. Complementary studies have also reported associations between higher lithium exposure and reduced dementia incidence and mortality[4,5], pointing to lithium having a broader role in brain health beyond its established use in psychiatry.
Country-specific research provides further insight. In Japan, a large-scale study investigated lithium levels in drinking water across 808 cities and wards, comparing these with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevalence between 2010 and 2014[6]. Results found an inverse association between lithium levels in drinking water and lower prevalence of Alzheimer’s among females, suggesting that even trace exposure may reduce dementia risk in certain groups.
Taken together, these findings may help explain growing scientific interest in lithium – not just as a treatment for psychiatric conditions, but also as a potential protector of long-term brain health.
Breakthrough Animal Research:
One of the most exciting recent developments comes from preclinical studies in mice[7]. Researchers discovered that reduced brain lithium levels may result from lithium binding to amyloid plaques (a key feature of Alzheimer’s disease), leaving the brain functionally “lithium deficient” and ultimately impairing uptake into brain tissue. This “lithium deficiency” may play a role in Alzheimer’s – a strikingly new idea in the field.
Even more encouraging, researchers have found a novel lithium compound that's designed to bypass this problem, avoiding being captured/tangled by plaques. In animal models, this compound restored memory and reversed dementia-like symptoms.
While these findings are preliminary and limited to animal models, they open up exciting possibilities. Lithium is known to protect brain cells, encourage new growth, and strengthen neural connections – the same properties that underpin its use as a mood stabiliser. This potential suggests lithium research could open doors in two areas:
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Protecting memory and brain health with age
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Supporting mood and mental wellbeing
If these early findings carry over to humans, lithium could offer benefits far beyond its current medical use.
What’s Coming Next?
Looking ahead, researchers are asking key questions:
- How does lithium orotate’s bioavailability compare with other lithium compounds?
- Can low-dose lithium orotate be studied safely in clinical trials?
- Does it offer unique benefits, or does it function similarly to established lithium salts?
Answering these questions will require carefully designed studies, transparent reporting, and international collaboration.
To explore in more detail what lithium orotate is, who uses it, and what you should know before considering it, read our blog here.
Additionally, we have written an in-depth comparison between lithium carbonate and lithium orotate – discover their main differences, benefits, and who they are most suited for.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. If you have questions about supplements or treatments, consult a qualified healthcare professional.
What is lithium orotate used for?
Currently, lithium orotate is marketed as a dietary supplement. Some consumers use it for mood support, but scientific evidence is limited.
Is lithium orotate different from lithium carbonate?
Yes. Lithium carbonate is a prescription medication with decades of research backing its use in psychiatric care. Lithium orotate is a supplement compound, and has not undergone the same level of testing.
Is lithium orotate found in food?
Lithium orotate is not naturally found in food, but small amounts of elemental lithium occur in foods like grains, vegetables, and drinking water.
Does lithium in drinking water affect mental health?
Some studies suggest correlations between natural lithium levels in water and population mental health trends. However, correlation does not equal causation, and further research is ongoing.
