A recent study suggests that lithium could help those with osteoarthritis.

A new study from the United Kingdom suggests that a popular drug used to treat certain mental illnesses could help people with osteoarthritis.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London together with scientists at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, found that lithium chloride, a drug usually prescribed to patients with bipolar disorder and depression, may slow the damage done to cartilage by osteoarthritis.

Damage control

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, resulting from wear and tear on the joints that causes pain in the knees, hands, and hips.

The university doctors used bovine cartilage that was treated with inflammatory molecules to simulate osteoarthritis, and then exposed to lithium for two weeks. Results suggest that the drug blocked certain cell proteins from damaging protective cartilage.

"Osteoarthritis has a devastating impact on the lives of many people in the U.K.," Professor Martin Knight, the study's co-author, said in a release. "And it's vital that we look for novel ways to prevent it."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 27 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, which most often appears after age 40.

Early stages

Knight cautioned that his study is still in its infancy and scientists don't know if lithium will prove itself for treating osteoarthritis. However, he added that the current study results are a potential step forward in the fight against the disease.

The researchers noted that their recent study counters one published in 1984 that posited exposure to lithium may cause arthritic symptoms. According to the U.K. and New Zealand scientists, their work suggests that the long-term use of lithium does not induce arthritis in lab rats.

For more on osteoarthritis:

Treating Osteoarthritis Naturally
Why More Women Have Osteoarthritis
Finding the Right Treatment for Your Osteoarthritis of the Knee