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Sodium
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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The Basics of Sodium
Sodium is considered an alkaline extracellular cation. Sodium, along with potassium (Ka) and chlorine (Cl), is one of the most essential nutrients for the body. The body contains 70-110 grams of sodium, a third of which is found in bone tissue, and the rest in extracellular fluids, muscle tissue, and nerves.
Amount of sodium needed per day
It is easy to maintain your daily sodium intake, as you need to consume 4-6 g of this element per day, and 15 g of plain table salt already contains the required portion of sodium.
When should you increase your sodium intake?
During hot weather and when doing sports, a person loses a lot of moisture in the form of sweat, so under such conditions it is worth increasing sodium intake. This should also be done when taking diuretics, with severe vomiting and diarrhea, with burns and with Addison's disease (adrenal cortex insufficiency).
Sodium absorption
If the body is completely healthy, then sodium is excreted in the urine in almost the same amount as it was taken in.
The beneficial effects of sodium on the body
Sodium, together with potassium (Ka) and chlorine (Cl), participates in the water-salt metabolism of cells in the body of humans and animals, but maintains the balance of extracellular fluids, neutralizes acids, has an alkalizing effect and maintains osmotic pressure.
Sodium regulates blood pressure, helps the heart muscle function normally and contract all muscle groups. It gives special endurance to tissues, balances the heartbeat. The digestive and excretory systems cannot do without its influence, and the transfer of useful substances into and out of the cell is simply impossible without it.
Sodium is an antagonist of potassium (Ka) in the body, so for it to work properly, the ratio of sodium to potassium (Ka) should be 1:2. If there is too much sodium in the body, then its balance can be balanced by adding additional potassium (Ka).
Interaction of sodium with other elements of the body
If there is too much sodium in the body, potassium (Ka), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) are excreted from the body in too large quantities, which can lead to health problems.
Symptoms of sodium deficiency
If there is not enough sodium in the human body, then he loses his appetite, may not distinguish the taste of food, such a person may complain of nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Weight loss due to water, increased gas formation in the intestines are also possible. Skin rashes, severe fatigue, dizziness and sudden mood swings, muscle weakness, convulsions may occur. Often people with sodium deficiency complain of memory impairment and weak resistance to infections.
Symptoms of excess sodium
When the body is oversaturated with this element, swelling, allergies and severe thirst may occur. The fact is that sodium strongly binds water, so when it is consumed in excess, water accumulates in the body and is poorly excreted. This leads to increased blood pressure, and, accordingly, to heart disease (possibly a stroke).
When there is a lack of potassium (Ka) in the body, sodium penetrates into the cells and brings too much water there. Sometimes this leads to the cells saturated with water bursting, muscle tissue swelling and dropsy forming. And constant increased salt content in the body leads to various edemas, kidney diseases and hypertension.
Why does excess sodium accumulate in the body?
In addition to the fact that excess sodium can occur with frequent consumption of salt in large quantities (salty foods), it can also occur with stress or treatment with corticosteroids such as cortisone.
Aldosterone, which is produced by the adrenal glands during times of stress, can retain sodium in the body.
What affects the amount of sodium in foods?
The amount of this element in foods depends only on how much table salt you added when preparing them.
Causes of sodium deficiency
It is usually very difficult to lose significant amounts of sodium from the body, but this can happen in hot weather, and the loss can be so great that it can be a threat to your health. Such changes in the body can lead to fainting. Low-salt diets also lead to sodium loss, which causes diarrhea and frequent vomiting.
Foods containing sodium
The largest amount of sodium is contained in seaweed – almost 520 mg. About 200-300 mg of this mineral is contained in flounder, octopus, mussels and lobster. 130-160 mg of sodium are contained in anchovies, shrimp, sardines, regular chicken eggs and smelt. More accessible for everyone may be crayfish, squid or sturgeon – they contain a lot of sodium, and this will be quite enough for the body to be healthy.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Sodium" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.