Summary
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What is lithium?
Lithium is a mineral used in large doses (hundreds of milligrams) as prescription medicine to treat bipolar disease but at much lower doses (fractions of a milligram to a few milligrams) as a dietary supplement. The form in supplements is typically lithium orotate or lithium aspartate, while prescription medicine is lithium carbonate or lithium citrate (see What It Is). Although all forms will provide lithium, read labels carefully to understand how much lithium is being promised because lithium is only a small portion of lithium-containing compounds, e.g., only about 4% of lithium orotate is elemental lithium (see Forms of Lithium). Use the Results table to easily compare amounts of lithium in tested supplements.
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What do lithium supplements do?
There is no conclusive evidence that supplemental lithium helps. However, some observational studies and small clinical studies suggest that low-dose lithium may improve mood, reduce the risk of suicide and reduce the risk and/or progression of dementia (see What It Does).
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How much lithium should I take?
Suggested daily doses of supplemental lithium range from about 0.3 mg to 5 mg — similar to, or slightly above, the amounts of lithium obtained per day from what we normally eat and drink (see Dosage).
Best choice for lithium supplements?
Many products passed our tests for quality, in which products were tested for their amounts of lithium and potential contaminants (lead, cadmium, and arsenic) (see What CL Found). Three supplements were selected as Top Picks. Be aware that many supplements on the market provide more lithium than you want, but it is possible to use partial dosing (see Dosage). -
Safety and side effects of lithium:
Too much lithium can cause toxicity and affect thyroid function (see Concerns and Cautions).
Products tested in 2017
+— 23 sources
In addition the results of its expert testing, ConsumerLab uses only high-quality, evidence based, information sources. These sources include peer-reviewed studies and information from agencies such as the FDA and USDA, and the National Academy of Medicine. On evolving topics, studies from pre-print journals may be sourced. All of our content is reviewed by medical doctors and doctoral-level experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. We continually update and medically review our information to keep our content trustworthy, accurate, and reliable. The following sources are referenced in this article:
- Lithiuim Prescribing Information 2018
- Forlenza, Br J Psych 2011
- Greenblatt, Townsend Letter 2015
- Guttuso Jr., JAMA Netw Open 2024
- Hampel, J Clin Psychiatry 2009
- Kessing, JAMA Psychiatry 2017
- Leyhe, J Alzheimers Dis 2009
- Nunes, Curr Alzheimer Res 2013
- Parker, JAMA Psychiatry 2018
- Schrauzer, Biol Trace Elem Res 1990
- Schrauzer, Biol Trace Elem Res 1994
- Schrauzer, J Am Coll Nutr 2002
- Sugawara, Int J Environ Res Pub Health 2013
- Bilikiewicz, J Alz Dis 2004
- Guelen, Biopharm Drug Dispos 1992
- Hanlon, JAMA 1949
- Johnson, The History of Lithium Therapy 1984
- Kling, J Pharm Pharmacol 1978
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- Aprahamian, J Clin Psych 2014
- Broberg, Environ Health Perspect 2011
- Gitlin, Int J Bipolar 2016
- Pauze, J Med Toxicol 2007
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