Dietary supplements containing lithium are prohibited
Lithium should only be taken under a doctor's supervision
“Neural health,” “mental clarity,” “inner peace,” or “powerful cognitive presence”: lithium-containing products sold as dietary supplements are advertised online with these or similar claims. However, even a moderate increase in lithium levels in the human body can have serious health consequences. For this reason, foods—including dietary supplements—containing added lithium compounds are banned in the European Union.
The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) points out that the mineral lithium is not approved for use in dietary supplements in the European Union. It does not matter in which chemical compound lithium is used. These include, for example, lithium carbonate or lithium orotate. The fortification of other foods with lithium or its chemical compounds is also not permitted and is therefore prohibited. “Lithium occurs naturally in foods only in very small amounts. Its function in the body has not been conclusively clarified. Even a moderate increase in lithium levels can have serious health consequences,” explains BVL President Prof. Dr. Gaby-Fleur Böl.
Possible signs of lithium poisoning include, among others, intense thirst, frequent urination, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, tremors, and neurological disorders such as muscle weakness, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, as well as impaired coordination, speech, and vision. Severe poisoning can lead to cerebral seizures, coma, or even death.
Due to its pharmacological effects and health risks, it can be assumed that products containing added lithium compounds that are labeled as food are either unapproved drugs or unsafe food products. In both cases, their distribution is therefore prohibited.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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