What is Lithium?
Lithium is a naturally occurring trace element found in soil, groundwater, and various plant-based foods. It is best known for its pharmaceutical form—lithium carbonate or lithium citrate—used at high doses to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. However, in trace amounts, lithium may play a beneficial biological role, supporting brain health, mood regulation, cognitive function, and neuroprotection.
The "Essential Elements; urine" panel by Mosaic Diagnostics measures urinary excretion of lithium to assess short-term intake, environmental exposure, or supplementation. While lithium is not officially classified as an “essential nutrient” for humans, emerging research suggests that low-dose lithium intake may contribute to overall mental and neurological well-being.
Why Lithium Matters in the Body
1. Brain and Nervous System Health
Even at very low (nutritional) levels, lithium influences brain chemistry. It affects enzymes, neurotransmitters, and signaling molecules involved in neuroplasticity, stress response, and memory. Lithium has been shown to promote neuronal growth, enhance brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and protect against cellular damage and oxidative stress in the brain.
2. Mood and Emotional Regulation
Lithium is known for its mood-stabilizing effects, particularly in people with bipolar disorder, but lower doses may also help regulate mood and reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and impulsivity in the general population. Some population studies have found an inverse relationship between lithium concentrations in drinking water and rates of suicide or violent behavior.
3. Neurodegenerative Protection
There is growing interest in lithium’s potential to protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. At low doses, lithium may help regulate abnormal protein folding, reduce inflammation, and support mitochondrial function—factors implicated in cognitive decline.
4. Cellular and Genetic Effects
Lithium interacts with key cellular pathways, including glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a regulatory enzyme involved in metabolism, cell survival, and inflammation. By modulating this enzyme, lithium can influence both gene expression and cellular repair processes.
How Lithium Is Measured in Urine
Urinary lithium testing provides a snapshot of recent lithium exposure or intake over the past 24–48 hours. Since lithium is excreted primarily through the kidneys, its concentration in urine reflects what the body has absorbed and is actively eliminating. This test is especially useful for individuals taking lithium supplements or medications, as well as those interested in optimizing cognitive and emotional well-being through trace mineral balance.
Mosaic Diagnostics includes lithium in this panel to help identify:
Nutritional insufficiency or low intake
Potential overexposure (from supplements, medications, or water sources)
Imbalance with other minerals, particularly sodium and potassium, which affect lithium’s absorption and transport
Interpreting Lithium Levels
Low or Decreased Lithium
May reflect insufficient dietary intake, particularly in individuals not consuming lithium-rich foods or water
Could be associated with reduced cognitive performance, low mood, irritability, or poor stress tolerance
May indicate higher metabolic demand, such as during times of chronic stress, neuroinflammation, or oxidative damage
In people with neuropsychiatric symptoms, low lithium may suggest a potential role for nutritional lithium supplementation (low-dose, microgram to milligram range)
Elevated Lithium
May result from supplementation or pharmaceutical use (e.g., lithium carbonate)
In those not on prescribed lithium, elevated levels may reflect high intake from water sources or supplements
Excess lithium—particularly in therapeutic doses—can be toxic, with symptoms such as tremor, fatigue, nausea, confusion, or electrolyte imbalance. However, these are rare at nutritional doses
Kidney function plays a major role in lithium clearance. Individuals with impaired renal function may show reduced excretion or accumulation over time
What Affects Lithium Levels?
Lithium levels are influenced by a range of internal and external factors:
Dietary intake: Foods grown in lithium-rich soils (e.g., cereals, vegetables, legumes) or lithium-rich spring water can increase levels
Supplement use: Even microdoses (e.g., 1–5 mg/day) can raise urinary lithium
Hydration status: Dehydration or low fluid intake can concentrate lithium in urine
Sodium and potassium balance: Lithium competes with sodium in kidney transport pathways. Low sodium can increase lithium retention, while high sodium can promote lithium excretion
Kidney health: Since lithium is excreted through the kidneys, reduced renal function may cause accumulation
Potential Symptoms of Low Lithium Status
Though not formally recognized as a deficiency, low lithium status may correlate with:
Low mood or mood instability
Anxiety or irritability
Poor stress resilience
Cognitive fog or forgetfulness
Increased susceptibility to neuroinflammation or oxidative stress
What to Do if Your Lithium Level Is Low
Dietary sources: Increase intake of plant-based foods such as legumes, leafy greens, and grains, especially those grown in high-lithium soil regions (though this is hard to track for most consumers)
Supplementation: Some healthcare providers recommend microdoses of lithium orotate (0.5–5 mg/day) for brain and mood support, but this should be done under clinical supervision
Evaluate related minerals: Lithium works in tandem with sodium, potassium, and magnesium. A full mineral assessment can provide a clearer picture of overall balance
Lifestyle support: Improve brain resilience and emotional health through regular sleep, exercise, and stress-reducing practices, which help reduce the metabolic burden on the nervous system
Summary
Lithium, while often associated with psychiatric medications, also functions as a trace nutrient with potential benefits for brain health, mood regulation, and cognitive protection. The "Essential Elements; urine" test by Mosaic Diagnostics provides a non-invasive way to assess recent lithium status. Low levels may indicate reduced dietary intake or higher need, while elevated levels suggest recent supplementation or, in rare cases, overexposure.
A low lithium level is not inherently dangerous, but in the context of mood symptoms or neurological concerns, it may be a useful clue. Your healthcare provider can use this information to guide personalized nutritional or functional medicine strategies aimed at improving mental and metabolic resilience.
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
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Low urinary lithium levels on the Essential Elements; urine panel by Mosaic Diagnostics may indicate insufficient intake, reduced absorption, or increased metabolic demand. While lithium is not officially recognized as an essential nutrient, a growing body of research suggests that low levels—even at trace doses—may impact neurological, cognitive, and emotional health.
1. Inadequate dietary intake
Lithium occurs naturally in plant-based foods and water, but its concentration depends heavily on the mineral content of the soil and water in a given region.
Diets low in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains—or heavily reliant on processed foods—may provide minimal lithium.
Most people do not consciously consume lithium-rich foods or supplements, so low levels are common.
2. Reduced absorption or bioavailability
Impaired gastrointestinal absorption due to gut dysfunction (e.g., IBD, dysbiosis, malabsorption) may reduce lithium uptake from food.
Certain nutrient deficiencies or interactions (e.g., low sodium or magnesium) can affect lithium handling in the body.
3. Increased physiological or neurological demand
Chronic stress, neuroinflammation, aging, or toxin exposure may increase the body’s need for lithium, especially in brain tissue.
Individuals with mood instability, cognitive issues, or neurodegenerative risk may have higher cellular turnover and thus greater lithium requirements.
4. Kidney retention or conservation
The kidneys tightly regulate lithium excretion. In some cases, low urinary levels may reflect retention due to low serum lithium or sodium depletion (which causes the kidneys to hold on to lithium).
Dehydration or diuretic use can also influence urinary excretion patterns.
While low lithium isn’t classified as a deficiency in the traditional sense, research and clinical observations suggest associations with:
Mood instability: Increased risk of low mood, irritability, or emotional reactivity
Cognitive challenges: Brain fog, forgetfulness, or poor concentration
Reduced neuroprotection: Lower brain resilience to oxidative stress or inflammation
Higher suicide risk: Epidemiological studies have found lower lithium levels in drinking water are associated with higher suicide and violent behavior rates in the general population
Altered hormone or enzyme regulation: Lithium influences several enzyme systems that affect cell signaling and gene expression
Dietary changes: Increase intake of plant-based foods, especially legumes, leafy greens, and whole grains. While exact lithium content is hard to track, plant diversity improves trace mineral intake.
Consider low-dose supplementation: Nutritional lithium supplements (e.g., lithium orotate at 0.5–5 mg/day) may be considered under clinical supervision—especially for mood, cognition, or neurological support.
Evaluate related minerals: Check for imbalances in sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which interact with lithium transport and metabolism.
Support brain health: Prioritize neuroprotective strategies such as sleep, exercise, stress management, and antioxidant support.
Low lithium levels in urine suggest that your body may be receiving—or excreting—only minimal amounts of this trace element. While not officially essential, lithium plays important roles in mood stability, brain function, and cellular health. A low result could reflect low dietary intake, poor absorption, or increased need due to stress, inflammation, or neurological strain. This finding may be a useful clue in broader assessments of mental and metabolic health, especially when considered alongside other mineral and functional markers.
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Import Lab Results from Any Source
Easily upload lab results from any provider, whether it's a hospital, independent lab, or home testing service. We support PDFs, scanned documents, and JPEGs from patient portals. No need to log in to multiple platforms — everything is centralized in one secure space.
Easily upload lab results from any provider — we support PDFs, scans, and images. Keep all your reports organized in one secure place.
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Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey. Whether you're tracking a condition, managing treatments, or staying proactive, the timeline helps you and your doctor understand how things progress over time.
Every lab result is automatically organized on a chronological timeline, giving you a complete picture of your health journey.
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Whether it's a blood test, GI panel, urinalysis, or something else, lab reports measure numerous biomarkers that reveal what's happening inside your body. Our extensive database covers over 10,000 biomarkers, providing clear, simple explanations of what each result means and how you can take action—no matter your membership level. Say goodbye to confusion and get the insights you need to better understand your health.
Our database covers over 10,000 biomarkers with clear, simple explanations—so you can finally understand your results and what to do next.
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Enter Your Lab Reports — Always Free
If you'd like to handle inputting your health data into your account, you can do so with our easy-to-use data entry forms. Our user-friendly form is designed to guide you through the quick and easy submission process, making it simple to keep track of your health metrics. This is available to both Complete plan and Unlimited plan members.
Our user-friendly form guides you through a quick, simple submission process, making it easy to enter your health metrics.
Add your results anytime with our easy entry form. It's quick, guided, and helps you stay organized — free for all members.
Visualize Your Results
View your lab data through easy-to-read graphs and tables. Quickly spot patterns, track changes, and compare results across different dates — all without digging through multiple reports. You can also select and compare graphs of specific biomarkers side-by-side to better understand how they relate and change over time.
See your lab reports in clear graphs and tables. Spot patterns, track changes, and compare results over time — all in one place.
Export Your Complete Lab History in a Single File
Export Your Complete Lab History
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file. Choose from PDF, Excel, or CSV formats to easily review, share, or get a second opinion—no more juggling multiple reports.
After collecting lab results from different providers, you can download your entire history combined into a single file.
Comprehensive Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest. Complete plan members receive one report entered for free, then $15 per report after that. Unlimited plan members receive ten report entries for free, then $15 per report after that.
Our inclusive service handles the data entry for your lab reports. Just submit your information and we'll take care of the rest.
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Whether you're working with a doctor, nutritionist, caregiver, or wellness coach, you can securely share your complete lab history by sending an invite link to anyone you trust. You have full control over who sees your information and for how long, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind at every step.
Share your full lab history with your doctor, nutritionist, or coach using a secure invite link.
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I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
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As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
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Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you're on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
The Complete Plan ($15/month) is perfect for individuals who want ongoing access to their health data. It includes unlimited lab imports, visual tracking, custom ranges, result explanations, full account exports, and secure sharing — all with a simple monthly subscription. You can cancel anytime and restart your plan whenever you're ready — your data will still be there waiting for you. You can also upgrade to the Unlimited Plan at any time, with the cost prorated based on what you've already paid.
The Unlimited Plan ($250 one-time) is also designed for individuals but offers lifetime access with no ongoing subscription. You'll get all the same features as the Complete Plan, plus a larger initial data entry allowance (10 reports), making it a great choice if you prefer a one-time payment and long-term use without monthly fees.
In short:
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our Data Entry Service is for when you don't want to manually type in your lab results yourself. You simply upload your report (PDF, image, or screenshot), and our trained team enters the information into your Healthmatters account for you — accurately and neatly organized, ready to view in graphs, tables, and timelines.
The $15 per report covers the time and care it takes for a real person to review your file, make sure each result is entered correctly, and double-check for accuracy. This ensures your health data is precise and easy to work with — without you having to spend the time doing it yourself.
Prefer to do it yourself? You can always use our free self-entry tool to add results manually — it just takes a bit more time and attention.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
All professional accounts allow you to import and onboard an unlimited number of clients and their lab results. The distinction between professional plans lies solely in the data entry service.
The Pro Monthly Plus plan is priced at $75 per month and includes a data entry service for five reports each month. Additional reports can be self-entered at no extra cost or, if preferred, you can use our data entry service for an additional fee of $15 per report.
The Pro Monthly plan is priced at $45 per month and does not include a data entry service. Self-entry is free for an unlimited number of reports, and you can opt for the data entry service at a fee of $15 per report.
You also have the option to upgrade to higher monthly or to annual plans, which come with substantial discounts. All upgrades can be done directly from your account.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We've crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download your information anytime. We offer two easy ways to export your lab data:
This makes it simple to save, back up, or share your health data whenever you need.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Optimal Result:
0.01 - 0.2 mEq/g creat.