Lithium Orotate
Also known as: lithium (as orotate), Li orotate, low-dose lithium, nutritional lithium
A salt of lithium with orotic acid sold at microgram-to-low-milligram lithium doses, hundreds of times below prescription lithium carbonate. It is marketed in mood and cognitive-longevity formulas on the basis of epidemiological work on lithium in drinking water and small imaging and survey studies of low-dose supplementation. Recent analysis suggests the orotate ligand offers no pharmacological difference from other lithium salts once absorbed. Its regulatory status as a dietary ingredient is unsettled.
Research summary
Lithium ion inhibits GSK-3 and inositol monophosphatase and influences neurotrophic signaling; whether the microgram doses in supplements reach meaningful brain concentrations is under study.
Dosage
Daily amounts, elemental (4% of the compound is the element).
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1–5 mg | — | — |
Doses are milligrams of elemental lithium, not of the orotate salt. Lithium orotate monohydrate (C5H3LiN2O4·H2O, MW ≈ 180) is 3.9% Li (6.94 ÷ 180); the anhydrous salt is 4.3%; 0.038 is used — verify against the supplier's certificate of analysis. 5 mg of lithium is about 130 mg of lithium orotate. Product servings of 1–5 mg lithium reflect market use; Neal 2024 imaged brain lithium after low-dose dietary supplementation but a verified dose-response range for the supplement form was not located. Lithium orotate has not been the subject of a New Dietary Ingredient notification; flag it for compliance review.
Source material: synthetic lithium salt of orotic acid
As supplied: ≈ 3.8–4.3% Li; 5 mg Li ≈ 130 mg lithium orotate
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Small dose, fits any capsule. Keep as capsules or tablets rather than gummies or liquids to avoid dose variability and accidental intake.
Formulation notes
Lithium interacts with ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, thiazide diuretics, and NSAIDs, which raise serum lithium, and with prescription lithium. Should not be combined with prescription lithium therapy without medical oversight. Not appropriate for pregnancy formulas.
- NDI status uncertain
- Notable drug interactions
- Not for pregnancy
Sources
- Lithium orotate: distinct compound or simply Li(+) after administration? (Hajek 2026)PubMed
- Human brain (7)Li-MRI following low-dose lithium dietary supplementation in healthy participants (Neal 2024)PubMed
- A Survey Exploring People's Experiences With Lithium Bought as a Supplement (Strawbridge 2025)PubMed
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