Rat brain and serum lithium concentrations after acute injections of lithium carbonate and orotate

Abstract

Eight hours after intraperitoneal injections of 1·0, 2·0, and 4·0 m equiv Li kg−1, the serum and brain lithium concentrations of rats were significantly greater after lithium orotate than after lithium carbonate. While little serum lithium remained at 24 h after injection of 2·0 m equiv kg−1 lithium carbonate, two‐thirds of the 2 h serum lithium concentration was present 24 h after lithium orotate. Furthermore, the 24 h brain concentration of lithium after lithium orotate was approximately three times greater than that after lithium carbonate. These data suggest the possibility that lower doses of lithium orotate than lithium carbonate may achieve therapeutic brain lithium concentrations and relatively stable serum concentrations.

Lithium orotate: A superior option for lithium therapy?

“…Does LiOr truly result in higher brain and serum concentrations of lithium relative to Li 2 CO 3 , as was previously observed by Kling et al. (1978)? If so, how does the LiOr complex accomplish this?…”

“…Lithium may be liberated from the orotate carrier within the cell during the incorporation of orotate into the synthesis pathway, allowing for enhanced intracellular accumulation of Li + relative to Li 2 CO 3 , which dissociates extracellularly. Increased intracellular accumulation of Li + may in part explain why LiOr results in greater long‐term (i.e., >24 h) brain Li + concentrations than what are observed for equivalent doses of Li 2 CO 3 post‐administration (Kling et al., 1978).…”

Synergistic Effects of Tetrahydroaminoacridine and Lithium on Cholinergic Function After Excitotoxic Basal Forebrain Lesions in Rat

“…was combined with either 0.5 mmole/kg or 1.0 mmole/ kg lithium (i. p.). An i. p. dosage of 1 mmole lithium/kg in rat had previously been shown to result eight hours after application in plasma and brains levels of 0.17 mmole Li per l and kg, respectively (Kling et al, 1978). Lithium levels at a similar order of magnitude were achieved in human after application of 0.2 mmole Li/kg (Lehmann et al, 1974(Lehmann et al, , 1976(Lehmann et al, , et al, 1978.…”

Lithium toxicity from an internet dietary supplement

“…Each tablet is listed as containing 120 mg of lithium orotate (3.83 mg of elemental lithium per 100 mg of [organic] lithium orotate compared to 18.8 mg of elemental lithium per 100 mg of [inorganic] lithium carbonate). Animal models suggest that lithium orotate has similar kinetics, but the lithium orotate may achieve higher tissue concentrations at the same dosages commonly prescribed for lithium carbonate and lithium citrate formulations [4][5][6]. This may be secondary to lower renal clearance of the lithium orotate salt [5,6].…”