Sodium explained: what it is and daily intake
Sodium is found in table salt, and salt added during food processing, preservation and personal use is its main source in Western diets. EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) considers 2.0 g/day a safe and adequate intake for the general EU adult population. One product we reviewed lists sodium and prints its amount: 1 mg per serving.
- What it is
- Mineral
- What adults need a day
- 2 g
- In the products we reviewed
- 1, its label prints the amount
What sodium is
- Salt added during food processing, food preservation and personal use is the main source of sodium in Western diets.1
- Sodium chloride is the main component of table salt.1
- Sodium helps control the amount and distribution of water in the body and helps cells take in dissolved substances.1
- Healthy people absorb almost all the sodium they consume, even at very high intakes.1
- A large share of the body's sodium is in bone, skin and muscle.1
- The kidneys are the main organs controlling how much sodium the body keeps or removes.1
Foods that have it1
- Table salt
Works with
- Potassium. Sodium and potassium work together to support electrical signals in nerves, muscles and the heart.1
How much sodium each product gives
Adults need 2,000 mg a day
Before you take it
Ask a doctor first
- Excess sodium intake is a concern for European populations.1
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. A supplement is not a medicine.
The product we reviewed that lists sodium
| Product | Form and serving | Sodium per serving | Our score | Price a bottle | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LeptiThinMax#1 in weight loss support | Capsules2 capsules | 1 mgunder 1% of daily need | 9.6 | $39 | Check price |
Questions people ask
Is sodium salt?
Sodium is found in table salt. EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) says sodium chloride is the main component of table salt.
How much sodium do adults need per day?
EFSA considers 2.0 g sodium/day a safe and adequate intake for the general EU adult population. This guidance applies to both adult men and women.
What does sodium do in the body?
Sodium "helps cells take in dissolved substances," according to EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority). EFSA also says a large share of the body's sodium is in bone, skin and muscle.
How do sodium and potassium work together?
Sodium and potassium work together to support electrical signals in nerves, muscles and the heart.
How much sodium is too much?
Excess sodium intake is a concern for European populations. EFSA considers 2.0 g/day safe and adequate for the general EU adult population. Ask a clinician before starting a sodium supplement.
Which supplements we reviewed contain sodium?
LeptiThinMax is one product we reviewed that lists sodium. Its printed amount is 1 mg per serving of 2 capsules, with a daily value of <1%.
Sources
The products, amounts and prices come from each product's label and checkout, as its review shows them. AI drafts our pages from listed sources, figures are checked against them, and we have not tried the products.
- 1EFSA Journal (2019), scientific opinion 5778efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doichecked