Tag: Lithium sources

While pharmaceutical lithium is a well-known medication, most people receive dietary lithium from their food and water, with concentrations varying significantly depending on the source. A German study of 160 different beverages found that mineral water had considerably higher levels of this trace element than wine, beer, or coffee.

The average adult in the U.S. consumes between 0.64 and 3 milligrams of elemental lithium daily, primarily from diet and water. While famously used in psychiatric medication, trace amounts of lithium naturally occur in many whole foods, including grains, vegetables, and nuts, contributing to the body's overall intake of this mineral.

While the raw mineral lithium is abundant in the Earth's crust, lithium orotate itself is not found naturally in its bonded form but is instead produced synthetically for dietary supplements. The orotate compound is an organic salt that binds to lithium to enhance its absorption, differing from the trace amounts of ionic lithium found in certain foods and water.

Research published in *Biological Trace Element Research* highlights that between 66% and 90% of our daily dietary lithium intake comes from cereal grains and vegetables. This trace mineral is naturally present in our environment and enters the food chain primarily through soil and water.