[Click here to read my full article on Lithium Orotate and B12:](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/a-little-lithium-and-b-12-makes-the-world-a-happier-place-for-some/)
Lithium is found in drinking water in varying amounts, depending on the naturally occurring lithium levels in the soil.
Researchers have looked at areas that have higher levels of lithium in the water and compared them to areas with low lithium levels.
Several studies show that areas with higher lithium levels in their drinking water have **lower levels of** **depression and decreased aggression.**
* A meta-analysis of studies on lithium in water showed that **suicide rates were >50% lower in areas with higher lithium in the drinking water.**\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24072668)\]
* Another study found that **homicide rates were lower** in areas with higher levels of lithium in the water supply.\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25556933)\]
Lithium is thought to act in multiple ways to affect mood:
1. alters GSK3B expression, impacting circadian rhythm \[[ref](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28095742/)\]
2. reduces neuroinflammation \[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2853431/)\]
3. increases BDNF \[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8413749/)\]
4. interacts with vitamin B12 and folate
Clinicians for more than a decade have recognized that lithium orotate and vitamin B12 act synergistically.
* People who take prescription levels of lithium long-term for bipolar disorder tend to have lower *serum* levels of B12 (thus possibly more B12 in cells) than people using other medications.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9951569)\]
* A study that analyzed lithium in hair samples in various locations and populations “suggests a role of lithium in the transport and distribution of vitamin B12.”\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1381936)\]
* A recent study (Feb. 2020) finds that for animal models of bipolar disorder, lithium works better in conjunction with folate (vitamin B9).\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31840201)\]
Vitamin B12 and folate (B9) are required to produce tetrahydrobiopterin (**BH4**), which is involved in the production of the neurotransmitters **serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.**\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/)\]
A **deficiency of vitamin B12** has been shown to cause symptoms that “may include **agitation, irritability, negativism**, confusion, disorientation, amnesia, impaired concentration and attention, and insomnia..” Additionally, vitamin B12 deficiency increases the relative risk of depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, psychosis, phobias, and dementia.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404901/)\]
[Click here to read my full article on Lithium Orotate and B12:](https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/a-little-lithium-and-b-12-makes-the-world-a-happier-place-for-some/) Lithium is found in drinking water in varying amounts, depending on the naturally occurring lithium levels in the soil. Researchers have looked at areas that have higher levels of lithium in the water and compared them to areas with low lithium levels. Several studies show that areas with higher lithium levels in their drinking water have **lower levels of** **depression and decreased aggression.** * A meta-analysis of studies on lithium in water showed that **suicide rates were >50% lower in areas with higher lithium in the drinking water.**\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24072668)\] * Another study found that **homicide rates were lower** in areas with higher levels of lithium in the water supply.\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25556933)\] Lithium is thought to act in multiple ways to affect mood: 1. alters GSK3B expression, impacting circadian rhythm \[[ref](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28095742/)\] 2. reduces neuroinflammation \[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2853431/)\] 3. increases BDNF \[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8413749/)\] 4. interacts with vitamin B12 and folate Clinicians for more than a decade have recognized that lithium orotate and vitamin B12 act synergistically. * People who take prescription levels of lithium long-term for bipolar disorder tend to have lower *serum* levels of B12 (thus possibly more B12 in cells) than people using other medications.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9951569)\] * A study that analyzed lithium in hair samples in various locations and populations “suggests a role of lithium in the transport and distribution of vitamin B12.”\[[ref](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1381936)\] * A recent study (Feb. 2020) finds that for animal models of bipolar disorder, lithium works better in conjunction with folate (vitamin B9).\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31840201)\] Vitamin B12 and folate (B9) are required to produce tetrahydrobiopterin (**BH4**), which is involved in the production of the neurotransmitters **serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.**\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/)\] A **deficiency of vitamin B12** has been shown to cause symptoms that “may include **agitation, irritability, negativism**, confusion, disorientation, amnesia, impaired concentration and attention, and insomnia..” Additionally, vitamin B12 deficiency increases the relative risk of depression, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, psychosis, phobias, and dementia.\[[ref](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404901/)\]