✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
📰Read the full Sodium evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.
2
Conditional
Sodium
Sodium chloride
Conditionally SafeStrongMajor Minerals
RDA
1,500 mg
Target
136–145 mEq/L
Upper limit
2,300 mg
Products
3,832
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium✅ USP Verified, NSF Contents Certified, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ Average intake already 2× recommended — REDUCTION, not supplementation [1]
⚠ Lithium patients: sodium changes affect lithium levels [1]
⚠ Exercise hyponatremia: sodium IS needed during >2 hr activity [2]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is not obtained from food in meaningful amounts; supplementation is the practical route.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
Serum sodium
Reference range / target
136–145 mEq/L
When to test
If clinical concern [1].
Routine in BMP [1].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Most people need LESS sodium (average 3,400 mg vs <2,300 mg goal). Supplementation only for heavy exercise, heat illness, hyponatremia. Lithium patients: consistent sodium intake critical. See Electrolyte Salts entry [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Adequate sodium important. Severe restriction not recommended [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Lower AI. Limit processed foods [1].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: See Electrolyte Salts entry if supplementing [2].
💊 With food: N/A — in virtually all food [1].
🚫 Avoid: Excess (>2,300 mg/day for most) [1].
2 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Table salt (NaCl)', '', '40% Na by weight. 1 tsp = 2,300 mg Na [1].']StandardCheck label
['Electrolyte supplements', '', 'See Electrolyte Salts entry [2].']StandardCheck label
3 Common questions
Should I supplement sodium? ▼
Almost never — average intake is already 2× recommended. Only for heavy exercise (>2 hrs), heat illness, or documented hyponatremia. See Electrolyte Salts entry [1] [2].
4 Clinical evidence

Strong

Sodium excess → hypertension: well-established (DASH-Sodium, INTERSALT) [1]. AHA <2,300 mg/day recommendation [1]. HIGH

Moderate

Exercise hyponatremia: sodium replacement during >2 hr exercise prevents this serious condition [2]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Optimal sodium for cardiovascular outcomes: debated (J-curve controversy) [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Absolute contraindications

✕ Hypertension, heart failure or significant kidney disease — sodium restriction usually indicated

Relative

⚠ Edema or ascites (cirrhosis)
⚠ Concurrent corticosteroids — sodium retention
⚠ Salt-sensitive individuals

🚩 Red flags

● Patient consuming >3,400 mg/day — cardiovascular risk [1]
● Lithium patient changing sodium intake — drug level changes [1]
6 Interactions

Drug interactions

Lithium Major
Mechanism: Sodium and lithium share renal handling. Sodium depletion → lithium retention. Sodium loading → lithium excretion. [1]
Effect: Variable lithium levels with sodium changes. [1]
Action: Maintain CONSISTENT sodium intake on lithium [1].

Supplement synergies

Potassium · Increase K+ from food (bananas, potatoes)
Increased K+ intake helps offset sodium's BP effects [1].
7 Regulatory
AHA: <2,300 mg/day; <1,500 mg ideal [1].
WHO: <2,000 mg/day [1].
8 US supplement products
3,832
on-market products containing Sodium (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Sodium (834)

Click a brand to see its Sodium products.
Or browse all 3,832 products in one list →
9 Frequently paired with
Calcium 2,309 sharedPotassium 1,935 shared
Sodium vs PotassiumSodium vs Chloride
10 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Sodium — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 15]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/sodium/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Sodium — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/sodium/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: January 2027
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Sodium — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/sodium/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG