Low lithium levels
Matt79 31 Aug 2011
I've done a few blood tests over a 6 month period
S-Lithium mmol/L Monthly 0.1 0.2 0.21 0.26
My lithium levels are below the reference range by quite a large factor. 0.6 (low) to 1.2 (high). I'm averaging 0.2 :(
Is this a problem long term? What do you think causes it? All my other levels are mostly normal. TST and SHBG very high and IL-6 is super high (but thats cos of my rheumatoid arthritis).
Could it be from drinking purified water?
Edited by Matt79, 31 August 2011 - 10:15 PM.
JLL 01 Sep 2011
Lithium in Drinking Water May Lead to Longer Life
I'm taking a lithium supplement since it seems like a pretty good bet. Too bad there's no data on the lithium content of tap water in Finland.
Lufega 01 Sep 2011
You say you have RA ? From what I remember reading, this pathway is overly activated in RA in an attempt to induce repair (?). I'm not sure what effect supplementing with Lithium would have on the outcome of the problem but this is the direction your research should be focused on.
Lufega 01 Sep 2011
[Mechanism of cartilage matrix remodeling by Wnt].
Wnt proteins play central roles in a variety of developmental processes and regulate cell differentiation, cell fate and cell proliferation. It has been also demonstrated that Wnt proteins profoundly participate in cartilage development. Interestingly, activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in chondrocytes induces a profile of matrix degradation enzymes quite similar to that of cartilage matrix degradation such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this review we discuss the involvement of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in pathological cartilage matrix degradation.
Would be a good idea to read the entire paper. The part in bold seems to be an observation, not a conclusion.
PMID:19798028 This study says that preventing the inhibition of Wnt helps repair bone erosion in joints. So using Lithium in therapeutic doses might be a good idea. Some caution is warranted though. Wnt beta catenin is activated in cancers. This is not worrisome if you don't already have cancer. The problem is, most popular supplements (curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin) and have anti-inflammatory properties, are also anti-cancer by inhibiting the beta catenin pathway. So they may retard healing in your case and mine.
Edited by Lufega, 01 September 2011 - 10:02 PM.
Lufega 01 Sep 2011
Tipping the balance: modulating the Wnt pathway for tissue repair.
The Wnt signaling pathway has a crucial role in regulating cell growth and differentiation and is required for tissue homeostasis and repair. Although constitutive activation of the Wnt pathway can lead to abnormal cell growth and cancer, modulation of Wnt signaling might have a therapeutic benefit for tissue regeneration in numerous diseases. Recently, preclinical studies have demonstrated that treatments with antibodies against the Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf1 (DKK1) and with the positive Wnt modulator R-Spondin1 (RSpo1) were sufficient to repair the bone lesions in multiple myeloma and rheumatoid arthritis and to restore the damaged mucosa in experimental colitis, respectively. A remarkable balance is set for Wnt signaling by secreted proteins such as RSpo1 and DKK1, which help to regulate tissue homeostasis. As physiological Wnt response is essential for the regeneration of damaged tissues, modulation of the Wnt pathway might be beneficial for the treatment of multiple human diseases.
PMID:19187992
Edited by Lufega, 01 September 2011 - 10:08 PM.
Brainbox 04 Sep 2011
http://www.ncbi.nlm..../pubmed/3711365
Lithium interaction with sulindac and naproxen.
Ragheb M, Powell AL.
Abstract
The interaction of lithium with sulindac and naproxen was studied in six sulindac-treated and seven naproxen-treated patients admitted to a geropsychiatry ward. Patients under a steady state lithium level received lithium for 3 days, then lithium + sulindac (300 mg/day) or naproxen (750 mg/day) for 6 days, and then lithium alone for 5 days. Sulindac failed to affect serum lithium levels and lithium clearance. The results with naproxen showed marked interindividual variations ranging from no increase to a 41.9% increase in serum lithium levels within 5 days. There was a corresponding decrease in lithium clearance in naproxen-treated patients. Patients undergoing lithium therapy might need a reduction of their lithium dosage following naproxen administration. More frequent serum lithium level determinations are required following initiation of naproxen therapy until the magnitude of the lithium-naproxen drug interaction can be adequately assessed in a given individual.
PMID: 3711365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Edited by Brainbox, 04 September 2011 - 12:44 PM.
Lufega 06 Sep 2011
What do you all think ?
Matt79 24 Oct 2011
Matt79 01 Nov 2011
Cephalon 02 Nov 2011
As far as I know glacier water is very low in minerals, so I conclude the lithium content is also low. The deeper the spring the better. At least does that match to my observations. In case you drink bottled glacier water, you should look for spring water.