Effect of Lithium upon Lipid Metabolism in Rats

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Abstract
Based upon preliminary reports indicating a negative correlation between the lithium content of drinking water and the incidence of coronary heart disease, a study was undertaken to examine the possible mode of action of exogenous lithium. One hundred and twenty-five Holtzman albino rats, mean weight 500 g, were divided into five groups. Four were fed a 22% fat-2% cholesterol diet containing 0, 0.008, 0.02 and 0.08% lithium, respectively, for 60 days. The fifth group was a control fed a stock diet. Serum phospholipids, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and urea nitrogen were unaffected by exogenous lithium. Serum free fatty acids increased with increasing lithium as did the serum calcium. Inorganic phosphorus decreased with increasing lithium. Blood sugar decreased significantly at lithium concentrations above 0.008%. Liver weight, phospholipids and cholesterol were unaffected by exogenous lithium, but liver total lipids decreased with increasing lithium concentration. This decrease was due to a decrease in liver triglycerides. At the 0.08% concentration, liver free fatty acids decreased. The data suggest that exogenous lithium stimulates triglyceride metabolism since liver triglycerides decreased concomitant with an increase in serum free fatty acid.