Lithium in breast milk transiently affects the renal electrolytic balance of infants
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Author(s)
Related Research Unit(s)
Detail(s)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 56-65 |
| Journal / Publication | Bipolar Disorders |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Online published | 21 Nov 2022 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2023 |
Link(s)
Abstract
Background: The use of lithium during breast-feeding has not been comprehensively investigated in humans due to concerns about lithium toxicity.
Procedure: We analyzed lithium in the kidneys of nursed pups of lithium medicated mothers, using analytical spectroscopy in a novel rat model. The mothers were healthy rats administered lithium via gavage (1000 mg/day Li2CO3 per 50 kg body weight).
Results: Lithium was detected in the breast milk, and in the blood of pups (0.08 mM), of lithium-exposed dams at post-natal day 18 (P18), during breast-feeding. No lithium was detected after breast-feeding, at P25 (4 days after cessation of nursing). The lithium pups blood had elevated urea nitrogen at P18 and reduced total T4 at P18 and P25, indicating a longer-term effect on the kidneys and the thyroid gland. Multivariate machine-learning analysis of spectroscopy data collected from the excised kidneys of pups showed elevated potassium in lithium-exposed animals both during- and after breast-feeding. The elevated renal potassium was associated with low nephrin expression in the kidneys measured immunohistochemically during breast-feeding. After lithium exposure is stopped, the filtration of lithium from the kidneys reverses these effects. Our study showed that breastfeeding during lithium use has an effect on the kidneys of the offspring in rats.
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Procedure: We analyzed lithium in the kidneys of nursed pups of lithium medicated mothers, using analytical spectroscopy in a novel rat model. The mothers were healthy rats administered lithium via gavage (1000 mg/day Li2CO3 per 50 kg body weight).
Results: Lithium was detected in the breast milk, and in the blood of pups (0.08 mM), of lithium-exposed dams at post-natal day 18 (P18), during breast-feeding. No lithium was detected after breast-feeding, at P25 (4 days after cessation of nursing). The lithium pups blood had elevated urea nitrogen at P18 and reduced total T4 at P18 and P25, indicating a longer-term effect on the kidneys and the thyroid gland. Multivariate machine-learning analysis of spectroscopy data collected from the excised kidneys of pups showed elevated potassium in lithium-exposed animals both during- and after breast-feeding. The elevated renal potassium was associated with low nephrin expression in the kidneys measured immunohistochemically during breast-feeding. After lithium exposure is stopped, the filtration of lithium from the kidneys reverses these effects. Our study showed that breastfeeding during lithium use has an effect on the kidneys of the offspring in rats.
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Research Area(s)
- analytical chemistry, bipolar disorder, endocrinology, lithium, pediatrics, psychiatry, renal electrolytic imbalance
Citation Format(s)
Lithium in breast milk transiently affects the renal electrolytic balance of infants. / Ahmed, Irfan; Khan, Muhammad Shehzad; Ma, Victor et al.
In: Bipolar Disorders, Vol. 25, No. 1, 02.2023, p. 56-65.
In: Bipolar Disorders, Vol. 25, No. 1, 02.2023, p. 56-65.
Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
