Lithium im Trinkwasser – Lithium ins Trinkwasser

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Eine im Jahr 2009 veröffentlichte Studie aus Japan berichtete von einem inversen Zusammenhang zwischen den Lithiumkonzentrationen im Trinkwasser und den Suizidraten in der jeweiligen Region und erreichte damit großes öffentliches Interesse. Etwa 10 Jahre danach war es unserer Ansicht nach an der Zeit zu prüfen, ob sich ein protektiver Effekt von höheren Lithiumkonzentrationen im Trinkwasser auf Suizidraten in der Allgemeinbevölkerung in weiteren Untersuchungen bestätigte. Seit 2009 wurden mehrere, überwiegend ökologische Studien zu diesem Thema veröffentlicht und konnten zumeist den protektiven Effekt einer höheren Lithiumkonzentration im Trinkwasser auf Suizide in mehreren Ländern nachvollziehen. Darüber hinaus berichtete eine Studie von einem möglichen protektiven Effekt von höheren Konzentrationen an Lithium im Trinkwasser auf die Inzidenz von demenziellen Erkrankungen. In diesem Artikel soll die Studienlage zu diesem inversen Zusammenhang zusammenfassend dargestellt, jedoch gleichzeitig auch auf die methodischen Schwächen dieser Untersuchungen hingewiesen werden.

ABSTRACT

In 2009, a japanese study reached public interest by reporting from an inverse relationship between higher lithium concentrations in tap water and suicide rates in the corresponding region. Ten years after, we proof whether this potential beneficial effect of lithium in tap water can be verified by further studies. Since 2009, various studies investigated the association between lithium concentrations in tap water and suicide rates in several countries and could confirm the inverse association between higher lithium levels in tap water and lower suicide rates in the corresponding region. In addition, one study also demonstrated neuroprotective effects of higher lithium concentrations in tap water regarding the incidence of dementia. We intend to summarize the recent literature on the promising neuroprotective effects of higher lithium concentrations in tap water and their impact on suicide rates and dementia. In addition, we also address general shortcomings of these studies that have to be considered when interpreting the results and drawing conclusions.

Schlüsselwörter

Lithium - Trinkwasser - Suizidrate - Demenz

Key words

Lithium - drinking water - tap water - suicide - dementia

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