Lithium in drinking water: is it really a real reducing in mortality?

Abstract

Studies of the hypothetical association between lithium in drinking water and suicide rates are considered. It is noted that some studies provide evidence of a negative association between the concentration of lithium in water and the risk of suicide, while other studies do not find convincing evidence of such association. Obviously, this issue requires further epidemiological studies that would take into account the impact of additional, primarily socioeconomic, factors. The authors of the article express the opinion that, regardless of the ability of lithium in drinking water to reduce the mortality of the population, lithium preparations, due to their obvious and proven anti-suicidal properties in pharmacological application, should be used more often in clinical practice.