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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

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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

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