Professor Dr. Michael Ristow's team along with Japanese
colleagues from universities in Oita and Hiroshima demonstrated
the physiological function of lithium. To test their theory, the
scientists examined the impact of lithium in a concentration
that is regularly found in ordinary tap water. "We found that
the mortality rate was considerably lower in those
municipalities with more lithium in the drinking water," said
Ristow. In a second experiment, the Jena scientists examined
exactly this range of concentration in the model organism C.
elegans. "The average longevity of the worms is higher after
they have been treated with lithium at this dosage", Ristow
added. The team also suggested using low-dose lithium as a
potential dietary supplement in the future. "From previous
studies we know already that a higher uptake of lithium through
drinking water is associated with an improvement of
psychological well-being and with decreased suicide rates,"
Ristow said. While low-dose lithium uptake on the basis of the
new