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Lithium's Link to Reduced Cancer Risk

People with the highest exposure to lithium in their drinking water had a lower risk of every type of cancer studied, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association publication.

Scientifically reviewed by: Gary Gonzalez, MD, in July 2026. Written by: Samuel Rutger.

The mineral lithium has long interested scientists.

At higher doses, lithium, in the form of lithium carbonate, has been used as a pharmaceutical to help those with bipolar disorder.1

Low-dose lithium has shown promise in slowing cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment, an early stage that often precedes Alzheimer's.2-4

Animal studies in invertebrates have shown that lithium may extend lifespan.5,6

On another front, scientists have investigated an enzyme in the body, that may be involved in processes linked to certain cancers.7,8

Lithium has been shown to inhibit this enzyme called glycogen synthase kinase-3 or GSK-3.

Lithium, a mineral found in trace amounts in some foods and drinking water, is known to inhibit GSK-3 activity.1,7,9

A recent observational study of over 252,000 men and women found higher exposure to lithium was associated with lower risk of every type of cancer studied.9

Those in the highest 20% of estimated lithium ingestion in drinking groundwater had a 71% lower overall cancer risk compared to those with the lowest intake.

GSK-3's Role in Cancer

The enzyme GSK-3 (glycogen synthase kinase-3) can be thought of as a master regulator that turns the activity of many cellular functions “on” or “off”.10

Preclinical studies have shown that overactivity of GSK-3 is associated with processes involved in several chronic illnesses, including neurological disorders like Alzheimer's,11 inflammatory disorders like asthma12 and arthritis,13 and psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder.7,14

When it comes to cancer, preclinical research has linked dysregulated GSK-3 activity to multiple aspects of development and progression of malignancies, including cancer cell growth and proliferation, avoidance of cancer cell death, and metastatic spread.8,15

Scientists have set out to identify nutrients and medications that inhibit GSK-3, which could potentially help slow cancer progression in certain tumor types.8,16 That's where lithium comes in.

Lithium Inhibits GSK-3

Lithium is a trace element that is generally needed only in small amounts. Preclinical research has shown that it is an inhibitor of GSK-3.17

It has been proposed that by taming GSK-3's overactivity in this way, lithium may influence pathways involved in multiple chronic diseases, including cancer.

Lithium has also been found to inhibit other enzymes that may be involved in cancer progression, including inositol monophosphatase.9,18

Lithium and Cancer

Trace amounts of lithium are naturally present in some water sources. That allows researchers to perform population studies examining the correlation between lithium intake and health.19-21

Several ecological studies have found that among people who are exposed to higher lithium concentrations in drinking water, there are lower risk associations with certain health outcomes:

  • Metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity,21,22
  • Death due to Alzheimer's,22 and
  • Death from any cause.23

A study published in 2025 in a Journal of the American Medical Association publication focused specifically on the link between lithium exposure and cancer risk.9

Researchers used U.S. Geological Survey data from over 4,700 groundwater wells across the U.S. to estimate lithium concentrations in drinking water by geographic area. They also followed 252,178 participants for a median of nearly four years. What they found was striking: Those living in areas with higher estimated lithium levels had a lower incidence of cancer.9

The greater the estimated exposure to lithium, the greater the reduction in cancer incidence. Compared to the lowest exposure group, those in the highest quintile of estimated lithium exposure had a 71% lower risk of developing cancer.

Higher lithium intake was associated with reduced risk of all cancer types investigated in both men and women, including:9

  • Breast,
  • Prostate,
  • Bladder and urinary,
  • Central nervous system,
  • Kidney,
  • Colorectal,
  • Leukemia,
  • Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and
  • Thyroid cancer.

These results suggest a possible association with cancer-related outcomes.

What You Need To Know

Lithium and Cancer Risk

  • Overactivity of the enzyme GSK-3 has been tied to risk for several common chronic illnesses, including cancer, in preclinical research.
  • Researchers are investigating the potential role of GSK-3 inhibitors in modulating pathways involved in cancer development and spread.
  • Lithium inhibits GSK-3 and has also been shown to affect other enzymes tied to cancer progression.
  • In an observational study published in 2025, people with the highest lithium exposure from drinking water had a 71% lower risk of developing cancer than those with the lowest exposure.

Summary

In preclinical research, overactivity of the enzyme GSK-3 has been tied to several common chronic diseases, including cancer.

These studies suggest that reducing GSK-3 activity may influence several pathways of tumor formation and progression.

The mineral lithium inhibits GSK-3 activity. One population-based observational study found that people with the highest lithium exposure from their drinking water have much lower rates of all cancers examined.

How Much Lithium Do You Need

At high doses (from 600 mg to 1,500 mg), lithium carbonate is widely used to treat mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder.1

The trace amounts of lithium found in some regions' drinking water are associated with lower cancer rates and other health benefits.9,26 Daily microdoses of lithium (1,000 mcg/1 mg) may help promote healthy aging, cognitive health, and more.1,27

Additional Benefits of Lithium

Researchers are investigating potential new benefits of low-dose lithium ranging from longevity to neuroprotection—specifically in Alzheimer's and dementia.

Initial observational studies suggest that lithium may be a contributor to healthy longevity. For example, an ecological study of over 1.2 million people in Japan found that trace amounts of lithium in drinking water were associated with lower overall mortality. The same study showed that low-dose lithium exposure also extended lifespan in C. elegans.23

In another study using a C. elegans model, lithium exposure throughout adulthood extended lifespan—by as much as 46%.6

Some of the exciting work with lithium is related to its potential role in protecting against cognitive decline and Alzheimer's. In 2025, the prestigious journal Nature published evidence that lithium was the only metal significantly reduced, out of 27 minerals measured, in the brains of over 150 people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's. In the same study, low-dose lithium orotate was associated with preserved memory performance in both normal aging mice and in mice with an inbred susceptibility to Alzheimer's-like changes.24

In one controlled clinical study, 113 patients with Alzheimer's who received a daily dose of 300 mcg of lithium for 15 months experienced less cognitive decline compared to those receiving placebo.4

Currently, there are around 50 clinical trials in the works regarding the benefits of the mineral lithium. Life Extension eagerly awaits emerging, promising data about the brain and body benefits of this powerful mineral over the next few years.25

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

  1. Szklarska D, Rzymski P. Is Lithium a Micronutrient? From Biological Activity and Epidemiological Observation to Food Fortification. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2019 May;189(1):18-27.
  2. Forlenza OV, Radanovic M, Talib LL, et al. Clinical and biological effects of long-term lithium treatment in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: randomised clinical trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2019 Nov;215(5):668-74.
  3. Damiano RF, Loureiro JC, Pais MV, et al. Revisiting global cognitive and functional state 13 years after a clinical trial of lithium for mild cognitive impairment. Braz J Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 11;45(1):46-9.
  4. Nunes MA, Viel TA, Buck HS. Microdose lithium treatment stabilized cognitive impairment in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2013 Jan;10(1):104-7.
  5. Castillo-Quan JI, Li L, Kinghorn KJ, et al. Lithium Promotes Longevity through GSK3/NRF2-Dependent Hormesis. Cell Rep. 2016 Apr 19;15(3):638-50.
  6. McColl G, Killilea DW, Hubbard AE, et al. Pharmacogenetic analysis of lithium-induced delayed aging in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Biol Chem. 2008 Jan 4;283(1):350-7.
  7. Beurel E, Grieco SF, Jope RS. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3): regulation, actions, and diseases. Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Apr;148:114-31.
  8. Sahin I, Eturi A, De Souza A, et al. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta inhibitors as novel cancer treatments and modulators of antitumor immune responses. Cancer Biol Ther. 2019;20(8):1047-56.
  9. Luo J, Zheng L, Jin Z, et al. Cancer Risk and Estimated Lithium Exposure in Drinking Groundwater in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Feb 3;8(2):e2460854.
  10. Tejeda-Munoz N, Robles-Flores M. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 in Wnt signaling pathway and cancer. IUBMB Life. 2015 Dec;67(12):914-22.
  11. Zhao J, Wei M, Guo M, et al. GSK3: A potential target and pending issues for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2024 Jul;30(7):e14818.
  12. Bao Z, Lim S, Liao W, et al. Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibition attenuates asthma in mice. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2007 Sep 1;176(5):431-8.
  13. Arioka M, Takahashi-Yanaga F. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor as a multi-targeting anti-rheumatoid drug. Biochem Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;165:207-13.
  14. Dandekar MP, Valvassori SS, Dal-Pont GC, et al. Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3beta as a Putative Therapeutic Target for Bipolar Disorder. Curr Drug Metab. 2018;19(8):663-73.
  15. Nagini S, Sophia J, Mishra R. Glycogen synthase kinases: Moonlighting proteins with theranostic potential in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol. 2019 Jun;56:25-36.
  16. Johnson JL, Rupasinghe SG, Stefani F, et al. Citrus flavonoids luteolin, apigenin, and quercetin inhibit glycogen synthase kinase-3beta enzymatic activity by lowering the interaction energy within the binding cavity. J Med Food. 2011 Apr;14(4):325-33.
  17. O'Brien WT, Klein PS. Validating GSK3 as an in vivo target of lithium action. Biochem Soc Trans. 2009 Oct;37(Pt 5):1133-8.
  18. Chen Q, Shen L, Li S. Emerging role of inositol monophosphatase in cancer. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 May;161:114442.
  19. Hamstra SI, Roy BD, Tiidus P, et al. Beyond its Psychiatric Use: The Benefits of Low-dose Lithium Supplementation. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2023;21(4):891-910.
  20. Liaugaudaite V, Raskauskiene N, Naginiene R, et al. Association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide rates: Role of affective disorders. J Affect Disord. 2022 Feb 1;298(Pt A):516-21.
  21. Rybakowski JK. Lithium: Fifteen Years Later. Neuropsychobiology. 2024;83(5-6):205-13.
  22. Fajardo VA, LeBlanc PJ, Fajardo VA. Trace lithium in Texas tap water is negatively associated with all-cause mortality and premature death. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018 Apr;43(4):412-4.
  23. Zarse K, Terao T, Tian J, et al. Low-dose lithium uptake promotes longevity in humans and metazoans. Eur J Nutr. 2011 Aug;50(5):387-9.
  24. Aron L, Ngian ZK, Qiu C, et al. Lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Nature. 2025 Sep;645(8081):712-21.
  25. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?intr=Lithium&aggFilters=status:rec%20act,studyType:int&viewType=Table. Accessed June 4, 2026.
  26. Ozerdem A, Ceylan D, Targıtay B. The Relationship Between Lithium and Cancer Proliferation: A Case-Based Review of the Literature. Curr Drug Metab. 2018;19(8):653-62.
  27. Marshall TM. Lithium as a Nutrient. Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. 2015;20(4):104-9.

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