Sodium is a member of the group of alkaline metals and is essential for human, animal and plant metabolism.
Atomic number 11
Since sodium is frequently found in foods and beverages on the market, it is advisable to evaluate it from a healthy point of view.
However, sodium has food contraindications. Let's see some studies.
Sodium is an essential nutrient, however increasing sodium intake is associated with increasing blood pressure, whereas low sodium intake results in increased renin and aldosterone levels (1).
For those suffering from high blood pressure, lowering blood pressure can be achieved by reducing the intake of sodium in the diet (2).
An optimal sodium intake target could be set at less than 2300 mg per day (100 mmol / 24 hours) (3). This recommendation applies to those suffering from diabetes, but is also recommended for the rest of the population that does not suffer from specific diseases.
These recommendations are quite known to everyone, even to those who do not read the scientific literature on the subject. However the reality is quite different. In this study sodium intake data collected from 1999 to 2016 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed. Trends in sodium intake for individuals ≥18years and in subgroups based on age, sex, race/ethnicity and sodium-sensitive chronic diseases were examined.
Sodium intake has remained above recommended levels in all segments of the adult population and adherence to guidelines is poor. Novel interventions are needed to reduce sodium intake (4).
Another aspect of sodium intake is that eating salty foods or drinks does not lessen thirst but increases it. And with the increase in sodium intake there is generally an increase in body weight (5).
Sodium can be found, for industrial use, in:
- wooden building materials
- plastic building materials
- foodstuffs
- detergents
- cosmetics
- computer
- cameras
- lamps
- refrigerators
- washing machines
Molecular Formula: Na
Molecular Weight: 22.99
UNII: 9NEZ333N27 23J3BHR95O
CAS: 7440-23-5 64975-43-5 64975-44-6 7646-69-7 184637-88-5 213530-35-9 351903-26-9 1061193-24-5
EC Number: 231-132-9
PubChem Substance ID 24871915
MDL number MFCD00085307
Synonyms:
- Natrium
- AC1NSENP
- 11Na
- HSDB 687
- ACMC-1BKTZ
- Sodium-23
- AC1Q1W6R
- CHEBI:26708
- TRA-0177117
- CTK2H7876
- AKOS015833457
- ANW-56400
- AN-21807
- AB01566864_01
- SC-91613
- UN142
