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.
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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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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.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
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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