Lithium Orotate: A Potential Aid for Neurological Lyme Disease?
Lithium orotate, a supplement often found in Lyme disease treatment protocols, has been claimed to alleviate neurological agitation common in chronic Lyme disease. However, it's essential to understand the current state of research regarding its use in managing neuroinflammation and neurological symptoms associated with Lyme disease.
Lithium orotate is known for its neuroprotective effects, particularly in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Preclinical studies in mice suggest that lithium orotate might slow or reverse memory loss and brain damage, possibly through mechanisms involving kinase GSK3β and brain lithium levels. However, these findings are limited to animal models of Alzheimer’s and have not been validated in human clinical trials, let alone in Lyme disease.
Regarding Lyme disease, there is currently no direct scientific evidence specifically supporting lithium orotate for managing neuroinflammation or neurological symptoms. Lyme-related neuroinflammation is a complex immune response to infection; lithium’s role in modulating neuroinflammation is not established here.
Despite the lack of direct evidence, lithium orotate's neuroprotective effects are supported by broader neuroscience evidence. The supplement is reported to inhibit neuroinflammation and oxidative stress pathways at low doses. It is also said to encourage the synthesis of neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which help repair damaged neurons and promote neural growth.
Mosaicdx.com reports that lithium has a neuroprotective role, including neuron repair and neurotrophic support. Clinical experience in Lyme disease patients suggests that lithium orotate may help manage neurological symptoms. For instance, it is said to reduce nervous system irritability, symptoms like jitteriness or sensory sensitivity.
It's crucial to note that lithium is an established, FDA-approved treatment for mood stabilization (in lithium carbonate/salts form), but lithium orotate is less studied and not officially approved for neurological or infectious disease purposes. Therefore, if considering lithium orotate for Lyme-related neurological symptoms, this would be experimental and should be discussed with a healthcare professional and not done without medical supervision.
In summary, while lithium orotate shows promise in animal models of neurodegeneration (Alzheimer’s), not Lyme disease, the evidence base for its use in Lyme disease neuroinflammation is currently lacking, with research restricted to other neurological conditions and preclinical studies. Clinical trials in humans, especially for Lyme disease, are needed to assess safety and efficacy.
References:
[1] Xu, L., et al. (2018). Lithium attenuates tau phosphorylation and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 15(1), 193.
[2] Li, X., et al. (2017). Lithium chloride alleviates cognitive deficits and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Molecular Psychiatry, 22(10), 1160–1168.
[3] Yang, Y., et al. (2016). Lithium attenuates memory deficits and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of Disease, 89, 14–23.
[4] PubMed search for "lithium orotate" AND "Lyme disease" on June 1, 2023.
Doctors and healthcare professionals should consider the current state of research when discussing the use of lithium orotate in managing neurological symptoms associated with Lyme disease, as the scientific evidence is currently limited to other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. In health and wellness discussions regarding lithium orotate, it's important to note that while it exhibits neuroprotective effects and may help repair damaged neurons, these findings have not been validated in human clinical trials specifically aimed at Lyme disease. Mental health practitioners might find value in exploring potential applications of lithium orotate for neurological disorders, including Lyme disease, but any experimental use of the supplement should be done under medical supervision.
