History of the mineral rubidium as an antidepressant

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016 5:03 pm Email this article

Here is a brief history of the use of the mineral rubidium for depression as outlined in a 2008 paper from Italy.

• “In 1891, the cardiologist Bottkin occasionally observed that cardiac patients treated with [rubidium chloride] experienced increased well-being compared to patients treated with [potassium chloride].”
• “In 1969, Dr. Meltzer discovered that the effects of rubidium in primates were the opposite of those produced by lithium.”
• “In 1976, the physiologist Mannistò observed that rubidium affects behavior in both animals and humans, as do amphetamines.”

Rubidium has Several Antidepressant Properties

They also noted that:

“The trace element rubidium has several antidepressant properties.

“It belongs to the group of lithium, sodium, potassium and calcium, and it is exchangeable with potassium.

“It has rapid oral absorption, and slowly enters into the central nervous system (red blood cell:plasma ratio = 3:20).

“The total content in the human body is 400– 900 mg, with a weekly balance of 15–25 mg absorption and 20 mg excretion, and its half-life is 30–60 days.”

Depression in Uremia Patients May Be Due to Rubidium Deficiency From Diet Restrictions

They also noted that depression is a common problem experienced by uremia patients, but this may be due to diet restrictions in these patients, noting that “It seems that diet restrictions might be the main cause of rubidium deficiency, as it is mainly found in red meat.”

Reference

Canavese C, Decostanzi E, Bergamo D, Sabbioni E, and Stratta P. Rubidium, salami and depression. You cannot have everything in life. Blood Purif, 2008; 26(4): 311-314.

Author’s Contact Info

Caterina Canavese
Nephrology and Transplantation
Department of Nephro-Urology
Amedeo Avogadro University,
Novara, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità
Corso Mazzini 18, IT–28100 Novara (Italy)
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Antidepressants

• Depression

• Rubidium