Thread: Lithium in water 'curbs suicide' BBC news

Drinking water which contains the element lithium may reduce the risk of suicide, a Japanese study suggests.

Researchers examined levels of lithium in drinking water and suicide rates in the prefecture of Oita, which has a population of more than one million.

The suicide rate was significantly lower in those areas with the highest levels of the element, they wrote in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

High doses of lithium are already used to treat serious mood disorders.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8025454.stm

but who knows what would be the side effects of sustained intake of lithium in small quantities.

Originally Posted by panchabhut

but who knows what would be the side effects of sustained intake of lithium in small quantities.

Somewhere in the news they stated people taking water with lithium from a long period of time. So to some extent it clears the side effect doubt, if it had any it must have shown up during this period.

Here' all the medical detail of lithium, have'nt read it. But it might clear your question.

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http://health.yahoo.com/mentalhealth-medications/lithium/healthwise--d00061a1.html