Ohgami Hirochika, Terao Takeshi, Shiotsuki Ippei, Ishii Nobuyoshi, Iwata Noboru
Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Br J Psychiatry. 2009 May;194(5):464-5; discussion 446. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.055798.
Although lithium is known to prevent suicide in people with mood disorders, it is uncertain whether lithium in drinking water could also help lower the risk in the general population. To investigate this, we examined lithium levels in tap water in the 18 municipalities of Oita prefecture in Japan in relation to the suicide standardised mortality ratio (SMR) in each municipality. We found that lithium levels were significantly and negatively associated with SMR averages for 2002-2006. These findings suggest that even very low levels of lithium in drinking water may play a role in reducing suicide risk within the general population.
尽管已知锂可预防情绪障碍患者自杀，但饮用水中的锂是否也有助于降低普通人群的自杀风险尚不确定。为了对此进行研究，我们检测了日本大分县18个市的自来水锂含量，并将其与各市的自杀标准化死亡率（SMR）进行关联分析。我们发现，2002年至2006年期间，锂含量与SMR平均值呈显著负相关。这些研究结果表明，即使饮用水中锂含量极低，也可能在降低普通人群自杀风险方面发挥作用。
