| Proper name |
Sodium |
| Category |
Mineral
(electrolyte). Chemical symbol "NA". |
| Functions |
Nerve transmission and muscle contraction is dependent on sodium. The
sodium/potassium pump is a mechanism that makes cell walls permeable and
allows passage of materials in and out of cells. Sodium attracts water
to itself, increasing blood pressure. Sodium helps regulate the acid alkaline
balance in the blood and lymph, and also helps regulate the transportation
and excretion of carbon dioxide. |
| RDA |
1 to 3 grams per day for adults. The average American consumes about 4 grams
per day |
| Therapeutic
dose |
Sodium is generally not given therapeutically as it is so prevalent in the
diet. |
| Deficiency symptoms |
Deficiency symptoms are rare but may occur following severe diarrhea, perspiration,
vomiting or starvation. Symptoms include; cardiac arrhythmia, muscle weakness,
loss of appetite, mental confusion and memory loss, anxiety or dread, and
light-headedness upon arising. |
| Toxicity |
Edema and high blood pressure |
| Best
forms
|
Miso soup and tamari |
| Food
sources |
Table salt, processed foods, salt-cured or pickled foods, seafood and meats.
Milk, eggs and a few vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, beets, celery,
leafy greens and beets also contain sodium. The sodium in vegetables is
usually balanced by potassium. Fruits contain almost no sodium. |
| Lab
tests |
Serum sodium. |
| Drug
interactions |
Sodium is depleted by Aspirin, Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate, Choline
Salicylate, Cholchicine, Cholchicine and Probenecid |
| Nutrient interactions |
Sodium usually occurs with chloride (as in table salt) |
| Metabolism |
Sodium, potassium
and chloride are the electrolytes that maintain osmotic pressure in bodily
fluids. Their ionic attraction influences the solubility of proteins and
other substances. They are called electrolytes because they carry a small
electric charge in their ionic (dissociated) state. Dietary sodium is
easily absorbed in the intestine and carried through the blood. Excess
sodium is excreted through the kidneys under the influence of mineralcorticoids
|
