Women taking lithium for bipolar dysfunction had higher bone mineral density on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) exams in comparison with ladies with bipolar dysfunction not taking the remedy, in line with a current examine.

The discovering reinforces the function of lithium as a first-line remedy, with current analysis suggesting that sufferers with bipolar dysfunction are disproportionately affected by osteoporosis and have an elevated danger of fracture, famous first creator Lana Williams, PhD, of Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, and colleagues.

“Both the condition and the medications used to treat it, for example, antipsychotics and antidepressants, have been suggested to adversely impact bone health. Preliminary evidence suggests that lithium might counterbalance some of these negative effects,” the group wrote. The examine was printed January 19 in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.

Bipolar dysfunction is a power psychiatric dysfunction related to excessive ranges of medical burden and untimely growing older. Lithium is the gold commonplace remedy for bipolar dysfunction with demonstrated temper stabilizing results, the authors wrote.

The unintended effects of lithium, significantly these associated to thyroid and kidney operate, are well-documented and are essentially the most possible motive for a drop in use of lithium remedy lately, the group added. However, they famous that much less is understood about lithium’s results on different organic programs, together with its potential advantages.

To that finish, the group assessed bone mineral density (BMD) in ladies utilizing DEXA exams and in contrast findings with these in ladies not taking the remedy. They enrolled 117 ladies with bipolar dysfunction, 35 of whom reported present lithium use for a median length of 64 months.

According to the findings, lithium customers had higher backbone, whole hip, and whole physique BMD in comparison with ladies with bipolar dysfunction not taking lithium, the researchers reported.

In addition, lithium customers had been additionally much less prone to have low bone mass (22.9% vs. 43.9%, p = 0.031), the group discovered.

“Our study agrees with the only study that directly measured BMD in lithium users,” the researchers wrote.

The group famous that the mechanism for lithium’s widespread results throughout organic programs stays elusive, nonetheless, and that randomized scientific trials – largely uncared for resulting from lithium’s low industrial potential – are urgently wanted to elucidate its potential skeletal protecting properties.

“Using a gold standard measurement of BMD and addressing several potential confounders, this study adds further evidence for lithium’s potential role as a bone-sparing agent in patients with bipolar disorder,” the group concluded.

The full article is accessible here.