| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| AHFS/Drugs.com | monograph |
| Pregnancy cat. | ? |
| Legal status | OTC |
| Routes | Oral |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 5266-20-6 |
| ATC code | ? |
| PubChem | CID 23686432 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C5H3LiN2O4 |
| Mol. mass | 162.03 |
| (what is this?) (verify) |
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Lithium orotate, is a salt of orotic acid and lithium. It is available as the monohydrate, LiC5H3N2O4·H2O.[1]
Lithium orotate is generally marketed as a dietary supplement used in small doses to treat mental conditions including stress, bipolar disorder, alcoholism, ADHD, ADD, aggression, PTSD, Alzheimer's and to improve memory. It has controversially been promoted as an alternative to lithium carbonate. In this compound, lithium is non-covalently bound to an orotate ion, rather than to a carbonate or other ion. Lithium orotate is sold under a wide variety of brand names and is available at some drugstores and health food stores.
Although a few psychiatrists prescribe lithium orotate to their patients, it is most often naturopaths and other alternative health practictioners who recommend this lithium compound to their patients.
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There is no evidence for the use of lithium orotate in clinical treatment in preference to lithium carbonate. However, one study suggests that lithium orotate may be useful in the treatment of addictions.[2] Some patients prefer to use it in place of lithium carbonate, as they believe that it is more bioavailable and the side effects are perceived to be significantly reduced.
An animal study by Smith and Schou suggests that the kidneys clear lithium orotate significantly less effectively than lithium carbonate, and that this accounts for the higher serum levels of lithum when lithium orotate is taken compared to the equivalent amount of lithium carbonate. They conclude: "The higher lithium concentrations could be accounted for by the lower kidney function. It seems inadvisable to use lithium orotate for the treatment of patients."[3] Equal doses of the carbonate and orotate salt were compared.
The study, which concluded that lithium orotate was inadvisable for treatment of patients, was done as a direct follow-up study to one performed by Kling, Manowitz, and Pollack in 1978. Their study suggested that lithium orotate could be used in lower amounts than the amounts required when using lithium carbonate, while achieving therapeutic results.[4] However, an earlier study did not find a difference in the uptake, distribution, and elimination of the orotate salt, as compared to carbonate or chloride salts of lithium.[5]
The active principle in these salts is the lithium ion Li+, which interacts with the normal function of sodium ions to produce numerous changes in the neurotransmitter activity of the brain. Therapeutically effective amounts of lithium are only slightly lower than toxic amounts.[6] Thus, the concentration of lithium ions in the blood must be carefully monitored during treatment. This means that self-treatment of a psychiatric disorder with lithium salts is potentially dangerous.
This medication is not recommended due to the lack of evidence for its safety and efficacy. There have been anecdotal reports of poisoning from lithium orotate. Many online salesmen market this supplement as a cure all when in fact it is not proven to be beneficial in any way and may actually be harmful.
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