Lithium May Have Chondroprotective Effects in OA Save

Several studies have suggested that lithium chloride exhibits significant chondroprotective effects on cartilage degradation (in animal models) in response to inflammatory cytokines. This report by Thompson and coworkers studied Wistar rats treated with a 9 month diet of lithium or control and demonstrated that lithium fed rats did not have any increase in arthritis. In contrast, lithium did inhibit GAG release, and blocked interleukin-1β induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 release and prevented matrix catabolism such that the loss of mechanical integrity observed with interleukin-1β alone was inhibited. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1MiLkWp).

In the past, there have been antecdotal reports that lithium may induce arthritis and that NSAID use was associated with lithium toxicity. Yet this report and few others suggest a potential chondroprotective effect for lithium.