What is sodium?
Sodium is a very soft silvery-white metal. (1)
Sodium is a type of atom. (1)
Sodium is a type of mineral.
Sodium is classified as an alkali metal. (1)
Sodium in a liquid phase is a type of electrolyte. (2)
The chemical formula for sodium is Na. (1)
Sodium is the most common alkali metal on Earth. (1)
Sodium is the 6th most abundant type of atom on Earth.(1)
What does sodium do?
enhances flavor, preserves freshness, and improves texture and appearance (4)
Sodium and Humans
What does sodium taste like?
sodium enhances flavor (4)
What foods contains sodium?
What is the RDA for sodium for humans?
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 says to never more than 2,300 mg per day (5)
If a person has high blood pressure or a family history of cardiovascular disease, the maximum decreases to 1,5000 mg per day.
How is sodium regulated in the human body?
The kidneys and adrenal glands are responsible for regulating sodium levels. (6)
What happens if a human has too much or too little sodium in their body?
| Too Little Sodium | Normal Range | Too Much Sodium | |
| hyponatremia | hypernatremia | ||
| when the concentration of sodium in the blood serum is lower than 135 mEq/l (6) | 136 to 144 mEq/l (6) | when the concentration of sodium in the blood serum is higher than 145 mEq/l (6) | |
| Causes | * severe vomiting or diarrhea (8) * taking certain medications, including antidepressants and pain medications (8) * taking diuretics (water pills) (8) drinking too much water during exercise (rare) (8) * dehydration (8) * kidney disease or kidney failure (8) * liver disease (8) * heart problems, including congestive heart failure (8) * adrenal gland disorders such as Addison’s disease (8) * hypothyroidism (8) * SIADH (8) * diabetes insipidus (8) * Cushing’s syndrome (8) | * inadequate fluid intake (6) * fluid loss (6) * consuming too much sodium (rare) (6) dehydration (6) vomiting (6) kidney disease (6) uncontrolled diabetes (6) diabetes insipidus (6) extreme diarrhea (6) dementia (6) fever (6) delirium (6) | |
| Symptoms | nausea (7) vomiting (7) headache (7) confusion (7) loss of energy, drowsiness, and fatigue (7) restlessness and irritability (7) muscle weakness, spasms, or cramps (7) seizures (7) coma (7) | excessive thirst (6) fatigue (6) confusion (6) changes in mood (6) muscle twitching (6) spasms (6) seizures (6) coma (6) |
Resources
1. https://www.britannica.com/science/sodium
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/electrolytes#intro
3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte
4. https://www.cdc.gov/salt/food.htm
5. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/chicken-lot-sodium-it-8553.html
6. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hypernatremia#definition
7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
8. https://www.healthline.com/health/hyponatremia#causes
