Even very low but sustained lithium intake can prevent suicide in the general population?

Terao, Takeshi; Goto, Shinjiro; Inagaki, Masumi; Okamoto, Yasumasa

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.02.043

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Lithium (Li), a newly recognized nutritionally essential trace element [2], is of interest within this context in view of the existence of statistically significant inverse associations of the drinking water Li with the suicide rates in Texas counties [3]. Since drinking water Li levels have since been also shown to be inversely associated with the suicide rates in municipalities of Oita Prefecture, Japan [4,5], supplementing the population with low levels of Li was recommended to prevent suicide in the general population [6]. To test the hypothesis that Li deficiency might be widespread in Japan, the levels of Li were determined in a collection of scalp hair samples of male and female residents of Tokyo Prefecture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lithium and Other Elements in Scalp Hair of Residents of Tokyo Prefecture as Investigational Predictors of Suicide Risk

Schöpfer¹

2011

Biol Trace Elem Res

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The high suicide rates in Japan and several reports of inverse associations of suicide rates with the levels of lithium (Li) in drinking water prompted determinations of Li along with other elements in samples of scalp hair of 100 male and 100 female residents of Tokyo Prefecture. In more than half of the samples of both genders, Li levels were below the instrumental detection limit or below or the lower limit of the laboratory reference ranges. Among other elements, the concentrations namely of cobalt were also frequently below the laboratory reference range, suggesting that low circulating levels of vitamin B(12) were common in this study population. As vitamin B(12) deficiency is associated with depression and other psychiatric conditions, and there is evidence of interactions between Li and vitamin B(12), Li deficiency as well as suboptimal vitamin B(12) status must be considered as potential suicide risk factors. In view of its established positive effects on mood and brain function, an adequate supply of selenium (Se) is important as well. Although the analytical results suggested that the Se status of the subjects was generally adequate, as seafood was a major dietary source of Se, much of it was actually sequestered by mercury and only a fraction was bio-available. In addition, the hair samples were found to contain not insignificant levels of As, Cd, Ni, and Pb, arising from the adventitious presence of these elements in foods and the environment. As these elements also interact with Se in vivo and are known to adversely affect mood and behavior, in investigational studies, subjects at risk need to be evaluated also with respect to these elements.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lithium and Other Elements in Scalp Hair of Residents of Tokyo Prefecture as Investigational Predictors of Suicide Risk

Schöpfer¹

2011

Biol Trace Elem Res

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“…It is likely that the source of foreign mineral waters originates from water with mineral salts including calcium, magnesium, and possibly lithium whereas that of Japanese mineral waters originates from water containing less mineral salts. Therefore, in future studies, it is desirable to consider which type of mineral waters (Japanese or foreign) the residents drink, for adjustment of the analytic data of any potential lithium effect on suicide rates and other mental states [9][10][11].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of lithium levels between Japanese and foreign mineral waters

Ishii¹,

Terao²,

Shiotsuki³

et al. 2017

CNPT

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Purpose: To measure the lithium levels of mineral waters and compare those of Japanese mineral waters to foreign ones. Methods: The lithium levels of Japanese mineral waters, foreign mineral waters, and Japanese tap waters were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test due to a skewed distribution. Results: As a whole, there was a significant difference between the 3 groups. Post hoc comparison by Bonferroni correction revealed that the lithium levels of foreign mineral waters were significantly higher than Japanese mineral waters and tap waters, though there was no significant difference between Japanese mineral waters and tap waters. Discussion: The present findings indicate that foreign mineral waters may have higher lithium levels than Japanese mineral waters and tap waters. In future studies, it is desirable to consider which type of mineral waters (Japanese or foreign) the residents drink, for adjustment of the analytic data of any potential lithium effect on suicide rates and other mental states.

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“…Although its mechanisms of action are poorly understood, lithium is known to reduce suicidal ideation. In the recent past, epidemiological studies have attempted to correlate lithium in drinking water and suicide prevalence [138,139]. Studies have revealed a marginal but notable decrease in suicide rates with increased levels of lithium in drinking water in Japanese males [140], in Japanese females [141] and significant effects in populations in Greece [142], Austria [143][144][145], and Texas [146], but no such effect in the east of England [147].…”

Section: Pharmacological Management Of Suicidal Ideationmentioning

confidence: 99%