Lithium in water 'curbs suicide'

bbc ^ | Friday, 1 May 2009

[JoeProBono]

Drinking water which contains the element lithium may reduce the risk of suicide, a Japanese study suggests. Researchers examined levels of lithium in drinking water and suicide rates in the prefecture of Oita, which has a population of more than one million. The suicide rate was significantly lower in those areas with the highest levels of the element, they wrote in the British Journal of Psychiatry. High doses of lithium are already used to treat serious mood disorders.

But the team from the universities of Oita and Hiroshima found that even relatively low levels appeared to have a positive impact of suicide rates. Levels ranged from 0.7 to 59 micrograms per litre. The researchers speculated that while these levels were low, there may be a cumulative protective effect on the brain from years of drinking this tap water.

[gattaca]

Aren’t there different types of lithium - lithium carbonate is what is prescribed for bipolar patients. What type do they put in water?

[goat granny]

The lith that is in the water is there naturally. Its not added...Just as in some rural area’s arsenic is a naturally occurring substance. But it is in such low dosages, it doesn’t poison anyone...In fact taking in minute amounts of arsenic over time builds up an immunity to it..I had a friend that couldn’t hit fresh water when putting in a well and all they could get on their 20 acres was salt water..The cattle got use to it, but the husband (worked with my husband) took home water from the office to make coffee for visitors...Believe me their coffee with their well water was yucky beyond belief. I would guess that when giving therapeutic lithium, it is different than naturally occurring, and the dosage is not regulated. So I really don’t have an answer to your question about what type of lith is used therapeutically.

[cartoonistx]

“A gram is better than a Damn!”