Effect of lithium on hepatic and serum elemental status under different dietary protein regimens

Lithium carbonate at the dose level of 1.1 g/kg was administered in diet to normal (18% protein), low-protein- (LP; 8%) and high-protein (HP; 30% diet)-fed rats for a period of 1 mo. The LP diet resulted in a significant decrease in the hepatic levels of zinc, iron, copper, manganese, calcium, and serum levels of calcium and sodium. The HP diet caused a marked decrease in copper and calcium levels in liver, but an increase in potassium levels in serum was observed. Lithium treatment to normal rats led to a significant reduction in the hepatic contents of zinc, copper, potassium, calcium, and serum contents of potassium and sodium, whereas an elevation in serum contents of calcium was noticed. Administration of lithium to protein-deficient rats increased the hepatic concentration of manganese and serum concentration of calcium and the levels almost reached the normal limits. On the other hand, there was a marked depression in potassium contents in the serum of LP- as well as HP-fed rats following lithium treatment when compared to LP and HP groups, respectively.