What is the Difference Between Lithium Orotate and Lithium Carbonate

The key difference between lithium orotate and lithium carbonate is that lithium orotate can penetrate cells more effectively than lithium carbonate.

Lithium orotate and lithium carbonate have applications as medications. Lithium orotate is important for the treatment of a wide range of mental health problems and is also useful as a dietary supplement. Lithium carbonate, on the other hand, is useful as a drug in treating mood disorders.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Lithium Orotate
3. What is Lithium Carbonate
4. Lithium Orotate vs Lithium Carbonate in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Lithium Orotate vs Lithium Carbonate

What is Lithium Orotate?

Lithium orotate is a salt compound having the chemical formula C5H3LiN2O4. It is a salt of orotic acid and lithium metal. This substance is available in the form of monohydrate. Lithium orotate has a lithium cation non-covalently bound to an orotate ion which can undergo dissociation in solution, producing free lithium ions. We can find this substance in the market as a dietary supplement.

Lithium Orotate vs Lithium Carbonate in Tabular Form

Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Lithium Orotate

Lithium orotate is a medication given orally, and it is available over the counter. This medication is well known for the treatment of a wide range of mental health problems. According to some research studies, lithium does not dissolve from the orotate anion until it passes through the blood-brain barrier. Some research studies have discovered that lithium orotate results in a higher lithium concentration in rat brains when compared to lithium carbonate, measured after 8 hours of administration of the medication. However, the pharmacokinetics of this compound in the human brain is poorly studied up to date. Also, there is no known mechanism of action.

Moreover, there are doubts about the safety of taking lithium orotate as a medication. There were cases where severe side effects emerged when patients had taken an overdose of lithium orotate. Furthermore, this compound can cause some mutagenic forms in mammalian somatic cells if high doses are taken.

What is Lithium Carbonate?

Lithium carbonate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula Li2CO3. It is the lithium salt of carbonic acid. It appears as a white powder that is odorless. It has many applications in the processing of metal oxides and is also useful as a drug in treating mood disorders. For example, it is one of the most important drugs used in treating bipolar disorder.

Lithium Orotate and Lithium Carbonate - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Lithium Carbonate

In industrial applications, this compound is very important as a precursor for compounds we use in making lithium ion batteries. Furthermore, the glasses that are made from lithium carbonate are very important in ovenware production. We can find this compound as a common ingredient in both low-fire and high-fire ceramic glaze. It can form low-melting fluxes along with silica and other materials. Furthermore, the alkaline properties of lithium carbonate cause the change of state of metal oxide colorants in the glaze. E.g. red iron oxide. Apart from that, cement tends to set more rapidly when it is prepared with lithium carbonate.

What is the Difference Between Lithium Orotate and Lithium Carbonate?

Lithium orotate is a salt compound having the chemical formula C5H3LiN2O4 while lithium carbonate is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula Li2CO3. Lithium orotate and lithium carbonate have applications as medications. The key difference between lithium orotate and lithium carbonate is that lithium orotate can penetrate cells more effectively than lithium carbonate. Besides, some research studies have discovered that lithium orotate results in a higher lithium concentration in rat brains when compared to lithium carbonate, measured after 8 hours of administration of the medication.

The following infographic lists the differences between lithium orotate and lithium carbonate in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Lithium Orotate vs Lithium Carbonate

Lithium orotate and lithium carbonate have applications as medications. The key difference between lithium orotate and lithium carbonate is that lithium orotate can penetrate cells more effectively than lithium carbonate.

Reference:

1. “Lithium Orotate USES, Benefits & Dosage” – Drugs.com.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Lithium-orotate-2D-skeletal” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Carbonat-Ion” By NEUROtiker ⇌ – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia