Pioneering Brain Health with Lithium Ascorbate
Normopharm brought lithium into the 21st century with our patented lithium ascorbate formulation, backed by decades of scientific research
What Lithium Ascorbate Can Do For You
Research, Patents & Publications
Explore the evidence behind effectiveness and safety of lithium and lithium ascorbate
Depression and Anxiety
How Lithium Salts Help Rats Cope With Stress
Lithium salts affect rats’ behavior under stress differently
Can Lithium Help When Antidepressants Don’t Work?
Learn about treatment-resistant depression
Lithium Salts Differ In Antidepressant Efficiency
Which lithium salt has a better antidepressant effect?
A New Look at an Old Element
Removing lithium from diet led to impaired reproduction and changes in bone health.
Depressed and Obese People May Benefit from Lithium
The Lancet published a study connecting depression and obesity
A Multitool: Lithium Benefits Multiple Disorders
Researchers have shown that lithium may treat conditions beyond bipolar disorder
From 7Up to Guinea Pigs: How Medicine Discovered Lithium
Urine, soda pop, guinea pigs — the discovery of lithium in medical history is a rollercoaster!
Is It Dangerous to Take Lithium While Doing Sports?
Safety of lithium treatment in athletes
More Than Half of Bipolar Suicides Happen Off Medication
Lithium stands out: the bipolar drug most linked to lower suicide risk
American Doctors Often Don’t Follow Lithium Treatment Guidelines
Your ZIP code affects what medication you get
The Overlooked Lithium Gap: Texas, the US, and Global Populations Fall Short
Lithium plays a vital role in brain function, emotional stability, and mental health.
Lithium Is Essential For Human Health
Over 50,000 scientific papers explore lithium’s role in supporting health.
People With Affective Disorders Could Benefit From Lithium Ascorbate
Open-Label Clinical Trial
Lithium Ascorbate Provides Emotional And Cognitive Support
Prospective, Non-Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Brain Protection
Could Trace Lithium in Tap Water Lower Cancer Risk?
When you drink tap water, you consume small amounts of lithium
The Overlooked Element Your Body Needs
Tap water in eastern U.S. tends to have lower lithium concentrations.
Can Food Give You Enough Lithium?
The provisional dietary intake of lithium is defined as 1 mg/day
Caffeine May Lower Lithium in the Body
High caffeine intake may accelerate lithium clearance and affect treatment outcomes
Bipolar Disorder Raises the Risk of Dementia. But There Is Hope
Lithium can make a difference
Lithium Is Misunderstood: Side Effects Are Overblown
Patients offered lithium have been scared off by its side effects
Protection, Repair, Balance: Lithium’s Roles In The Brain. Analytical Review
Lithium has been studied for over 70 years
Lithium May Protect Brain Areas Involved in Emotion and Memory
Lithium could help restore the hippocampus in people with bipolar disorder
Dementia
Can a Mood-Stabilizing Drug Help Stroke Recovery?
A systematic review and meta analysis of lithium and stroke recovery.
Discover What Lower Doses of Lithium Do
Effects of different doses of lithium, from high to trace.
Lithium Deficiency and The Onset of Alzheimer’s Disease
Lithium helps preserve cognitive function during aging.
Lithium Could Save Seven Million Americans
The Washington Post reports on the latest scientific study.
7Up Could Treat Mood Disorders And Alzheimer’s In The 1940s’
The Washington Post discusses the roles of lithium in neurological diseases.
Addiction
Patent: US-20200147128A1
Use of lithium ascorbate to prevent and treat alcoholism and alcohol intoxication
Microdosing Lithium Supports People with Addiction
A study conducted in a New York recovery center
Microdosing Lithium Can Benefit Your Brain, Heart, and Health
Low-dose lithium is showing potential as a safe, everyday support for brain.
Lithium Ascorbate Helps Protect the Brain from Alcohol Damage
Chronic Alcohol Intoxication Model In Rats
Safety of Lithium Ascorbate
How The Lithium-Dependent Proteins Function
Lithium interacts with a network of 47 proteins in the brain
Lithium Ascorbate Shows Low Toxicity and High Efficacy
Study showed that lithium ascorbate was effective in supporting neuronal survival
Preclinical Studies of Lithium Ascorbate: Proven Safety
Mutagenicity and Pharmacological Research
Lithium Ascorbate: A Natural Ally for Mood and Brain Health
Lithium ascorbate has shown promising SSRI-like properties in recent studies.
Can Lithium Ascorbate Cause An Allergic Reaction?
A Preclinical Study In Guinea Pigs And Mice
How Lithium Spreads And Accumulates In 11 Organs
Study Of The Pharmacokinetics And Compartmentalization
Science Writer
Where Can I read More About Lithium Research?
Publications, links & summaries
Lithium Ascorbate Studies
2. Comparative Analysis of the Stress-Protective Effects of Lithium Salts in the Open Field Test, Deltsov & Pozyabin
6. Neuroprotective and Adaptogenic Effects of Lithium Ascorbate
13. Chemoreactome analysis of the neurophysiological properties of lithium ascorbate
14. Study of the allergenic properties of substance Lithium Ascorbate
15. A complex study of the pharmacokinetics and compartmentalization
Lithium Ascorbate Patents
1. Agent exhibiting anti-stress, anxiolytic and anti-depression activity, and composition based thereon (Pyridoxine, i.e. Vitamin B6)
2. Agent exhibiting anti-stress, anxiolytic and anti-depression activity, and composition based thereon (Ascorbic acid)
3. Use of lithium ascorbate to prevent and treat alcoholism and alcohol intoxication
Lithium Studies
Treatment-Resistant Depression, Depression, and Comorbid Obesity
Acero-González et al. (2025). Lithium Augmentation in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Qualitative Review of the Literature. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.70063
Cleare et al. (2025). Clinical and cost-effectiveness of lithium versus quetiapine augmentation for treatment-resistant depression: A pragmatic, open-label, parallel-group, randomised controlled superiority trial in the UK. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00028-8
Opel, N., Hanssen, R., Steinmann, L., et al. (2025). Clinical management of major depressive disorder with comorbid obesity. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12, 780–794. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00193-2/fulltext
Scott et al. (2023). Systematic review and meta-analysis of augmentation and combination treatments for early-stage treatment-resistant depression. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811221104058
Thase et al. (2026). Treatment-resistant major depressive disorder in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-resistant-major-depressive-disorder-in-adults
Voineskos et al. (2020). Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression: Challenges and Strategies. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6982454/
Bipolar Disorder, Mood Stabilizers, and Psychiatric Medication Safety
Gomes-da-Costa, S., Marx, W., Corponi, F., Anmella, G., Murru, A., Pons-Cabrera, M. T., Giménez-Palomo, A., Gutiérrez-Arango, F., Llach, C. D., Fico, G., Kotzalidis, G. D., Verdolini, N., Valentí, M., Berk, M., Vieta, E., & Pacchiarotti, I. (2022). Lithium therapy and weight change in people with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 134, 104266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.011
Park, S. A., Son, S., Tae, B. S., Choi, H., Jeong, J.-H., Yoon, H.-K., Shin, C., Kwon, D.-Y., & Ko, Y.-H. (2025). Long-term treatment with lithium, valproate, and atypical antipsychotics on suicide risk in patients with bipolar disorder: A nationwide retrospective cohort study. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120264 Summary
Post, R. M., Li, V. W., Berk, M., et al. (2025). Lithium as a disease-modifying drug for bipolar disorder. The Lancet Psychiatry, 12, 863–868. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(25)00097-5/abstract Summary
Post, R. M., & Rybakowski, J. K. (2024). What Patients with Bipolar Disorder Need to Know about Lithium. Pharmaceuticals, 17(9), 1223. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091223 Summary
Solmi, M., Fornaro, M., Ostinelli, E. G., Zangani, C., Croatto, G., Monaco, F., Krinitski, D., Fusar-Poli, P., & Correll, C. U. (2020). Safety of 80 antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-attention-deficit/hyperactivity medications and mood stabilizers in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: A large-scale systematic meta-review of 78 adverse effects. World Psychiatry, 19(2), 214–232. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20765 Summary
Steger, C. M., Birckhead, B., Raghunath, S., Straub, J., Sthapit, S., Albert, M. C., Goes, F., & Zandi, P. P. (2025). Trends and determinants of prescription of lithium and antidepressants for bipolar disorder in a large health care system between 2017 and 2022. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.04.006 Summary
General Lithium Reviews, History, Low-Dose Lithium, and Emotional Processing
Fountoulakis, K. N. (2025). The Rise of a Legend: Lithium and the Extraordinary Story of Its Discovery. Pharmaceuticals, 18(8), 1230. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12389268/ Summary
Gitlin, M., & Bauer, M. (2024). Lithium: Current state of the art and future directions. International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 12, 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-024-00362-7 Summary
Ramli, F. F., Harmer, C. J., Cowen, P. J., & Godlewska, B. R. (2025). Lithium effects on impulsivity and emotional processing. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 45216. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29216-7 Summary
Strawbridge, R., Kerr-Gaffney, J., Bessa, G., Loschi, G., Freitas, H. L. O., Pires, H., Cousins, D. A., Juruena, M. F., & Young, A. H. (2023). Identifying the neuropsychiatric health effects of low-dose lithium interventions: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 144, 104975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104975 Summary
Strawbridge, R., & Young, A. H. (2024). Lithium: How low can you go? International Journal of Bipolar Disorders, 12, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-024-00325-y Summary
Lithium as a Micronutrient, Dietary Intake, Drinking Water, and Environmental Exposure
Barjasteh-Askari, F., Davoudi, M., Amini, H., Ghorbani, M., Yaseri, M., Yunesian, M., Mahvi, A. H., & Lester, D. (2020). Relationship between suicide mortality and lithium in drinking water: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 264, 234–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.027
Iordache, A. M., Voica, C., Roba, C., & Nechita, C. (2024). Lithium Content and Its Nutritional Beneficence, Dietary Intake, and Impact on Human Health in Edibles from the Romanian Market. Foods, 13(4), 592. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13040592 Summary
Luo, J., Zheng, L., Jin, Z., et al. (2025). Cancer Risk and Estimated Lithium Exposure in Drinking Groundwater in the US. JAMA Network Open, 8(2), e2460854. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830452 Summary
Naeem, A., Aslam, M., Saifullah, & Mühling, K. H. (2021). Lithium: Perspectives of nutritional beneficence, dietary intake, biogeochemistry, and biofortification of vegetables and mushrooms. Science of the Total Environment, 798, 149249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149249
Schrauzer, G. N., Shrestha, K. P., & Flores-Arce, M. F. (1992). 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, 34(2), 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02785244
Shimodera, S., Koike, S., Ando, S., Yamasaki, S., Fujito, R., Endo, K., Iijima, Y., Yamamoto, Y., Morita, M., Sawada, K., Ohara, N., Okazaki, Y., & Nishida, A. (2018). Lithium levels in tap water and psychotic experiences in a general population of adolescents. Schizophrenia Research, 201, 294–298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2018.05.019
Szklarska, D., & Rzymski, P. (2019). Is Lithium a Micronutrient? From Biological Activity and Epidemiological Observation to Food Fortification. Biological Trace Element Research, 189(1), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-018-1455-2
Caffeine, Diet, and Lithium Interactions
Andrews, K. W., Schweitzer, A., Zhao, C., Holden, J. M., Roseland, J. M., Brandt, M., Dwyer, J. T., Picciano, M. F., Saldanha, L. G., Fisher, K. D., Yetley, E., Betz, J. M., & Douglass, L. (2007). The caffeine contents of dietary supplements commonly purchased in the US: Analysis of 53 products with caffeine-containing ingredients. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 389(1), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-007-1437-2 Summary
Drugs.com. (2025, April 7). What is a proper diet to go on with lithium? https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/proper-diet-lithium-783867/ Summary
Frigerio, S., Strawbridge, R., & Young, A. H. (2021). The impact of caffeine consumption on clinical symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review. Bipolar Disorders, 23, 241–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi12990 Summary
Jefferson, J. W. (1988). Lithium tremor and caffeine intake: Two cases of drinking less and shaking more. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 49(2), 72–73. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3338980/ Summary
Lithium/caffeine interaction. (2017). Reactions Weekly, 1670, 173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40278-017-36326-z Summary
Noronha, N. Y., Rodrigues, G. da S., Rodrigues, V. F., Nicoletti, C. F., Martins, L. dos S., Diani, L. M., Delfino, H. B. P., Pinhel, M. A. de S., Watanabe, L. M., Sousa Júnior, W. T. de, Morais, D. A., Barbosa Júnior, F., Frantz, F. G., Carlos, D., & Nonino, C. B. (2024). Low-caffeine green tea supplementation reduced lithium serum levels and the relative abundance of microbiota in women with obesity: A case study. Clinical Nutrition Open Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2024.09.012 Summary
Song, J. J., Eyabi, J. C., Awatramani, P. D., Mitchell, B. G., & Nene, S. Y. (2024). Sudden reduction in caffeine intake increases serum lithium concentration to supratherapeutic level: A case report. Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 26(2), Article 23cr03642. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.23cr03642 Summary
Brain Aging, Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Hippocampus, Stroke, and Neuroprotection
Almeida, O. P., Singulani, M. P., Ford, A. H., Hackett, M. L., Etherton-Beer, C., Flicker, L., Hankey, G. J., De Paula, V. J. R., Penteado, C. T., & Forlenza, O. V. (2022). Lithium and stroke recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of stroke models in rodents and human data. Stroke, 53(9), 2935–2944. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.039203 Summary
Aron, L., Ngian, Z. K., Qiu, C., et al. (2025). Lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Nature, 645, 712–721. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09335-x Summary
Lucini-Paioni, S., Squarcina, L., Cousins, D. A., & Brambilla, P. (2021). Lithium effects on hippocampus volumes in patients with bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.046 Summary
Velosa, J., Delgado, A., Finger, E., Berk, M., Kapczinski, F., & de Azevedo Cardoso, T. (2020). Risk of dementia in bipolar disorder and the interplay of lithium: A systematic review and meta-analyses. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 141(6), 510–521. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13153 Summary
Molecular Mechanisms and Cancer Biology
Chen, Q., Shen, L., & Li, S. (2023). Emerging role of inositol monophosphatase in cancer. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 161, 114442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114442
Domoto, T., Uehara, M., Bolidong, D., & Minamoto, T. (2020). Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β in Cancer Biology and Treatment. Cells, 9(6), 1388. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9061388
Zhang, F., Phiel, C. J., Spece, L., Gurvich, N., & Klein, P. S. (2003). Inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) in response to lithium: Evidence for autoregulation of GSK-3. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 278(35), 33067–33077. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M212635200
Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
Billiard, M. (1987). Lithium carbonate: Effects on sleep patterns of normal and depressed subjects and its use in sleep-wake pathology. Pharmacopsychiatry, 20(5), 195–196. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1017102 Summary
Geoffroy, P. A., Samalin, L., Llorca, P.-M., Curis, E., & Bellivier, F. (2016). Influence of lithium on sleep and chronotypes in remitted patients with bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 204, 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.06.015 Summary
Gokcay, H., Takım, U., & Sağlam, T. (2025). Sleep quality in bipolar disorder: A comparative study of treatment with lithium and valproic acid. World Journal of Psychiatry, 15(11), 111807. https://doi.org/10.5498/wjp.v15.i11.111807 Summary
Hennion, V., Scott, J., Martinot, V., Benizri, C., Marie-Claire, C., Bellivier, F., & Etain, B. (2024). Are circadian rhythms more favorable with lithium than with other mood stabilizers? An exploratory actigraphy study in euthymic bipolar disorder type 1. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 135, 152531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152531 Summary
Addiction and Substance-Use Context
Gadh, S. (2020). Low-dose lithium impact in an addiction treatment setting. Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry, 21–22, 100059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmip.2020.100059 Summary
Sports, Athletes, and Physical Training
Currie, A., Gorczynski, P., Rice, S. M., Purcell, R., McAllister-Williams, R. H., Hitchcock, M. E., Hainline, B., & Reardon, C. L. (2019). Bipolar and psychotic disorders in elite athletes: A narrative review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(12), 746–753. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-100685 Summary
Maynar, M., Llerena, F., Grijota, F. J., Alves, J., Robles, M. C., Bartolomé, I., & Muñoz, D. (2017). Serum concentration of several trace metals and physical training. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0178-7 Summary
FAQs
What is lithium ascorbate?
Lithium ascorbate is a compound that combines lithium with vitamin C. Normotim uses a patented lithium ascorbate formulation designed to support brain health, emotional balance, and mental clarity.
What makes Normotim science-based?
The page states that Normotim is backed by 40+ scientific studies, 20+ scientific publications, and 3 US patents related to lithium ascorbate and its applications.
What does “12× safer than prescription lithium” mean?
Cnical studies suggest that lithium ascorbate may have a more favorable safety profile than lithium carbonate. In animal studies, lithium ascorbate showed lower acute toxicity and did not show the same level of toxicity concerns associated with lithium carbonate.
For lithium ascorbate, LD50 was estimated at 6,334 mg/kg and for lithium carbonate it was estimated as 531 mg/kg.
The higher the LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of test animals), the lower the acute toxicity.
Source: Lithium Ascorbate as a Promising Neuroprotector: Fundamental and Experimental Studies of an Organic Lithium Salt (Torshin et al., 2022)
What is the difference between lithium ascorbate and lithium carbonate?
Lithium ascorbate is a low-dose dietary supplement form of lithium bound to ascorbate. Animal and cell studies suggest that lithium ascorbate may have a more favorable safety and neuroprotective profile than lithium carbonate. Lithium carbonate is a prescription medication used under medical supervision.
Source: Lithium Ascorbate as a Promising Neuroprotector: Fundamental and Experimental Studies of an Organic Lithium Salt (Torshin et al., 2022)
Is lithium ascorbate safer than lithium carbonate?
Preclinical studies suggest that lithium ascorbate may have a more favorable safety profile than lithium carbonate. In animal studies, lithium ascorbate showed lower acute toxicity and did not show the same level of toxicity concerns associated with lithium carbonate.
For lithium ascorbate, LD50 was estimated at 6,334 mg/kg and for lithium carbonate it was estimated as 531 mg/kg.
The higher the LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of test animals), the lower the acute toxicity.
Source: Lithium Ascorbate as a Promising Neuroprotector: Fundamental and Experimental Studies of an Organic Lithium Salt (Torshin et al., 2022)
What is the difference between lithium ascorbate and lithium orotate?
Both are forms of lithium used in supplements, but they use different carriers. Lithium ascorbate is bound to ascorbate, while lithium orotate is bound to orotic acid.
What areas of brain health has lithium ascorbate been studied for?
The page summarizes research related to stress response, mood support, neuroprotection, memory, sleep, alcohol-related brain stress, and lithium distribution in the body.
What is BDNF, and why does it matter?
BDNF stands for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. It is a protein involved in neuronal survival, learning, memory, and neuroplasticity. The page states that lithium ascorbate increased BDNF in research.
What does “neuroplasticity” mean?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt, form new connections, and recover from stress or injury. The page presents lithium ascorbate as a compound studied for supporting neuroplasticity.
Is lithium an essential element?
Lithium naturally occurs in small amounts in water and food. Lithium is an essential element involved in human health and brain function.
Is lithium ascorbate toxic?
Lithium ascorbate is a low-toxicity supplement. It means that only very large doses can cause harm. The 1 or 5 mg of lithium ascorbate is safe to use daily without any toxicity effects.
Is lithium ascorbate safe for the kidneys?
The available studies did not show signs of kidney damage after lithium ascorbate use at the tested doses. This suggests that lithium ascorbate was well tolerated by the kidneys in these studies.
Is lithium ascorbate a treatment for depression or bipolar disorder?
No. Lithium ascorbate is a dietary supplement. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent depression, bipolar disorder, or any other disease.
Short Answer
Science Page Summary
The Normotim Science Hub is a research library focused on lithium, lithium ascorbate, brain health, emotional well-being, stress resilience, cognition, sleep, aging, and safety. The page summarizes more than 40 studies, 20 publications, and 3 U.S. patents related to lithium ascorbate and lithium science. Content includes reviews of preclinical studies, clinical studies, patents, historical research, and scientific literature covering mood, memory, learning, stress response, neuroprotection, sleep quality, dementia, addiction, and pharmacokinetics. The resource explains the differences between lithium compounds, including lithium ascorbate, lithium carbonate, and lithium orotate, and discusses safety, toxicity, brain health, and nutritional lithium intake. Articles are written in plain language and include summaries of published research, expert interviews, and evidence reviews. The page also provides links to scientific publications, patents, research summaries, and frequently asked questions about lithium ascorbate. Content is educational and informational and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for professional healthcare.