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Lithium in scalp hair of adults, students, and violent criminals

Effects of supplementation and evidence for interactions of lithium with vitamin B12 and with other trace elements

Biological Trace Element Research volume 34, pages 161–176 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

The lithium content of human hair shows an approximately linear response to extradietary lithium supplementation at dosage levels of up to 2000 μg/d. From the mean hair lithium concentration of 0.063 μg/g in 2648 predominantly American adults, and the reference hair lithium concentrations determined in the present study, the mean lithium intakes were calculated to be 730 μg/d. Hair lithium concentrations were extremely low in nearly 20% of the American samples, and in samples collected in Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria. Hair lithium levels are low in certain pathological conditions, e.g., heart disease, in learning-disabled subjects, and in incarcerated violent criminals. The highest levels were observed in samples of a lithium-treated psychiatric patient.

A statistically highly significant direct association was observed between the hair lithium and cobalt concentrations, which suggests a role of lithium in the transport and distribution of vitamin B12. Interactions of lithium with other trace elements are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, CA

    Gerhard N. Schrauzer

  2. Science Division, Beckley College, 25802-2830, Beckley, WV

    Krishna P. Shrestha

  3. Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, 22000, Tijuana, BC, México

    Manuel F. Flores-Arce

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  1. Gerhard N. Schrauzer
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  2. Krishna P. Shrestha
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  3. Manuel F. Flores-Arce
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Schrauzer, G.N., Shrestha, K.P. & Flores-Arce, M.F. Lithium in scalp hair of adults, students, and violent criminals. Biol Trace Elem Res 34, 161–176 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02785244

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02785244

Index Entries

  • Lithium, lithium supplementation, effect on scalp hair lithium levels, association of hair lithium with hair cobalt levels
  • Vitamin B12—lithium interactions
  • Violent subjects, learning disabled subjects