Lithium | Lithium orotate

Lithium | Lithium orotate

Properties: Lithium has a number of important functions in the body – from supporting brain function to boosting immunity to tissue regeneration. It exhibits the ability to stimulate the activity of key neurotransmitters. Through scientific research, the element has been proven to support the activity of dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system. These two key brain chemicals are responsible for, among other things, maintaining psychophysical balance, as well as the ability to focus attention and motivation to act. Moreover, lithium has neuroprotective properties – it protects neurons from harmful factors, including oxidative stress. It helps fight excess free radicals, thus preventing the development of neurodegenerative processes. At the same time, it stimulates the natural regeneration processes of nervous tissue, so it not only improves the condition of the nervous system, but also supports its efficient functioning. In addition, it is worth noting that lithium is important for balanced metabolism. It can regulate the work of mitochondria that produce energy, which is essential for the functioning of individual cells in the body.  It also helps maintain normal cholesterol levels, which in the long run translates into better cardiovascular health.

Occurrence: Lithium is one of the elements readily absorbed by plants, with some plants having the ability to accumulate it. Most lithium can be found in potatoes, tomatoes, grains, cabbage, nutmeg, coriander seeds, cumin and some mineral waters.

Biochemistry: Lithium (Li) is a chemical element in the metal group. In its pure form, it is a soft (cuttable with a knife), silvery-white solid, much lighter than water or oil. Its surface corrodes quickly when exposed to air, becoming covered with a silvery gray and then black tarnish. Like other alkali metals, lithium is highly reactive, so it should be stored in a vacuum, inert atmosphere or in an inert liquid, such as purified kerosene. Due to this property, under natural conditions it does not occur in free form, but only in the form of compounds, usually ionic ones. As a cation, it dissolves well in water, so it is found in the oceans and is commonly extracted from brines.

Fun fact: Lithium is believed to be one of the three elements – in addition to hydrogen and helium – that formed in the Big Bang. However, it is relatively scarce in the universe. Of the twenty-five lightest elements, it is lithium that is the least abundant, although a general rule of thumb is that atoms with small nuclei should be the most abundant. Its nucleus is at the limit of stability – it has one of the lowest binding energies of an atomic nucleus per nucleon. Therefore, its decay occurs already at low temperature. The collision of a lithium nucleus with a proton results in the formation of two helium nuclei.