Posted by Questionmark on July 23, 2004, at 20:25:25
Okay, i'm sorry, i think i have asked this question at least once or twice before, but i never seem to get a satisfactory answer (one as knowledgable or detailed and in depth as i would like [not that the answers i did get were bad, of course]). But...
Lithium is believed to stimulate or enhance neurogenesis in at least a select few parts of the brain. (This is apparently done-- as Linkadge states in a current thread-- through lithium's increase in BDNF, or Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor [i believe]). And i've read in at least a couple of reliable sources (abstracts probably) that lithium significantly decreases neuronal inositol levels and/or function (can't remember exactly).
Yet inositol as well as lithium have been shown to be effective in OCD, depression, and panic disorder (the latter may only be with inositol)-- though inositol can be effective on its own while lithium may mostly be effective only when augmenting another effective treatment (i'm not sure). And supplemental inositol is supposedly beneficial for healthy brain function, especially the serotonergic systems, supposedly. Now lithium, in appropriate doses, is also apparently believed to be beneficial to healthy brain function, again particularly with the serotonergic system (right?). So ... what's the deal here?
And so, which do you think is better for neurogenesis and/or prevention of neuronal death and healthy brain function: lithium or inositol. Obviously lithium has much more noticeable effects, but, i don't know whether this is relevant or not. Shoot, i was going to ask something else i think but i forget what it is and i have to go. Ah well. If any of you could shed any light on this confusion i would be highly appreciative (and impressed). And again i'm sorry if this question is sort of reiterating itself from before and has been answered to some degree before. But i'm just really confused and curious about this matter. Thanks.
poster:Questionmark
thread:369757
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040719/msgs/369757.html