First of all, lithium is a natural substance. It is a mineral and is on the periodic table of elements, atomic number 3. Lithium through the pharmaceutical companies is no less natural and is delivered in the form of lithium carbonate. Lithium carbonate consists of two lithium molecules bonded to one carbon and three oxygen molecules. Carbon and oxygen are two of the 6 most abundant elements on earth and vital to life.

The difficulty with the orotate and aspartate versions lies in the extremely low quantity of lithium that is present. Each capsule contains so little lithium (one brand states 4.6mg/capsule) that it requires massive quantities of capsules to deliver the equivalent amount of lithium that is available in just a few tablets/capsules in pharmaceutical grade products.

In order for lithium to be effective, it must be present in the blood in a specific range of serum concentration. This range is most generally reported at .6-1.2 mcg/mL. An average adult dose range for this therapeutic range would be 600mg-1800mg with some requiring 3000mg or more. Each individual is different and often children require increased doses due to their metabolic differences. Having enough lithium is not the only issue, lithium must be monitored continuously to avoid toxic levels in the blood. Just as we can develop vitamin toxicity when taking excessive quantities of them, so can one become toxic if lithium levels become too high.

These alternative lithium delivery formulations are dangerous in that nothing is regulated, is not supervised by a physician and has not yet been evaluated by the FDA to verify the claims made by their manufacturers.

Lithium carbonate formulations are simple compounds that are highly water soluble, which makes them capable of crossing the cell membrane through passive transport, requiring no energy from the cell. It is then metabolized by the cell.

Orotate and aspartate formulations bind lithium to complex amino acid chains. Amino acids are synthesized in the liver first into lipoproteins, plasma proteins and finally structural or functional proteins and non-protein molecules such as amine hormones and neurotrasnmitters. Typically the body will break down the amino acid to build the needed components. Any portions that are not utilized in constructing the amino or protein in this process remain attached to the lithium molecule. It may or may not be water soluble therefore, may or may not be capable of passive transport. If not water soluble, it will require an active transport into the cell. This requires a carrier to process it through special channels in the cell membrane and the expenditure of cell energy.

The process of metabolizing lithium is quite complex and in no way is it fully explored here. However, it is easy to see how the two compounds differ vastly in their availability to the body for use.

Crackerjack (copyright 1/30/04)