Facts
	Sodium is an essential mineral found mainly in extra cellular fluids, vascular fluids within the blood vessels, arteries, veins, capillaries; and intestinal fluids surrounding the cells.1-3 Approximately 50 % of the body's sodium is found in these fluids while the remaining amount is contained in the bones.3
	Sodium is absorbed in the small intestine where it is carried via the bloodstream to the kidney. The kidneys then filter out the necessary sodium the body needs to maintain blood sodium levels and then releases this amount into the bloodstream. The excess is then excreted in the urine.3
	Disorders involving the regulation of sodium are a culprit in man human diseases. According to Alexander Schauss, sodium chloride is a natural substance that is found in most foods. Processed sodium chloride, on the other hand, does not have the balance of minerals. "Studies have frequently found that the levels of processed sodium chloride ingested by Americans is 10 to 20 times the level required to maintain health."4

Functions
	Sodium is essential for maintaining blood pH and proper water balance.1 With potassium, sodium helps regulate the distribution of fluids on either side of the cell walls. Sodium and potassium are also intricately involved in muscle contraction and expansion as well as nerve stimulation
	Sodium also keeps the other blood minerals soluble so that a build up of other minerals
	Will not accumulate in the blood stream.
	Sodium also acts with chlorine to improve blood and lymph health and aids in eliminating carbon dioxide from the body.

Requirements
No Recommended Daily Allowance has been set for Sodium.


Signs of Deficiency
Deficiencies are uncommon as most foods, especially meats, contain sodium. However, persons that experience pronounced losses of sodium through heavy perspiration, diarrhoea or an impairment of the kidney to reabsorb sodium may experience decreased blood volume and a fall in blood pressure.5 Symptoms include: abdominal cramps, confusion, dehydration, dizziness, fatigue, muscular weakness, vomiting and weight loss.3,5


Signs of Toxicity
Sodium is generally non-toxic for healthy adults as it is readily excreted in the urine. Excessive sodium intake has been associated with oedema, high blood pressure, potassium Deficiency and liver and kidney disease.1


Current Research

Sports Performance and Heat
Electrolytes including sodium, potassium and chloride can be lost in sweat during endurance, exercise in hot temperatures or for those individuals that work in very high temperatures. For persons either exercising or working in extreme conditions, he or she should take care to ensure they are replacing the losses of sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and other minerals. According to Schauss though, "Unfortunately, few of these commercial sports beverages contain a proper balance of electrolytic minerals."4 These persons should monitor their fluid losses. A general, good rule of thought is to drink at least two cups of water for every pound of weight loss during exertion.


Excess Sodium and Hypertension
In general, there is no known benefit of large intakes of sodium or sodium chloride, according to Schauss. In fact, maintaining a low-sodium diet throughout one's life may decrease the risk for developing hypertension. Several studies have reported that a reduction in sodium intake lowers both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. One study, the Trials of Hypertension Prevention, demonstrated that a moderate reduction in sodium (from 155 to 100 mmol/day) over a period of a year and a half lowered the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 30-54 year old adults who had a high normal diastolic blood pressure prior to the study's commencement.5