Lithium is a naturally occurring alkali metal, which living organisms ingest from dietary sources and which is also present in trace amounts in the human body. The biochemical mechanisms of action of lithium appear to be multifactorial and are intercorrelated with the functions of several enzymes, hormones and vitamins, as well as with growth and transforming factors. In addition, lithium is required to induce a neutrophic factor in the brain that protects against excitotoxins.
At high doses (900,000 mcg per day or more for an adult), lithium has been used as a pharmaceutical agent to treat manic depression, conduct disorders, self-abusive behaviors, and aggressive behaviors. Serious side effects, including death may occur with these high doses of lithium and frequent blood tests must be done to prevent overdosing. Areas of the country where high levels of lithium is present in the drinking water have less violence and crime.
A study of 27 Texas counties found that the incidences of suicide, homicide and rape were significantly higher in counties with lime or no lithium compared to counties with higher water lithium levels, even after correcting for population density. Corresponding associations with the incidences of robbery, burglary and theft were also significant, as were associations with the incidences of arrests for possession of opium, cocaine and their derivatives. Furthermore, hair lithium has been shown to be a good indicator of lithium deficiency. Jim Adams found that in an evaluation of hair samples from children with autism, lithium values were significantly lower. I have made similar observations on many autistic children who were tested through The Great Plains Laboratory.
The lithium values of some of these children tested were in the lowest one percentile. A provisional RDA for a 70kg adult of 1000 mcg/ day (about 1% of the dose of lithium commonly used as a pharmaceutical agent) has been suggested. Doses of lithium between 150-400 mcg per day resulted in improved mood of drug abusers, some of whom had a long history of drug abuse. I want to emphasize again that the doses to replace a nutritional deficiency of lithium are 1% or less than the phannacological doses to treat manic-depression: these doses are not recommended for the treatment of autism.