Minerals play two important roles in human body: structural and physiological. Sodium in the form of sodium chloride is ingested directly through food and many food materials contain this mineral.
The sodium content of the body is 1.4 kg. Sodium is present mostly as an extracellular constituent and maintains the osmotic pressure and maintains the osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid.
In addition, it activates some enzymes, such as amylase.
Sodium is readily absorbed by the human body and plays a key role in retaining the body’s water, assisting nerve function and allowing absorption of other nutrients.
Sodium absorption is rapids; it starts 3 – 6 min after intake and is completed within 3 h.
Daily intake of sodium averages 2.5 g (females) to 3.3 g (males); the adult’s minimum requirement ranges form 1.3 – 1.6 g/day (equal to 3.3 – 4.0 g/day NaCl).
The intake of too little or too much sodium can result in serious disorders. Low level of sodium in the body can result in muscles cramping, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and later to shock and coma.
High levels of sodium in the body are associated with high blood pressure and hypertension.
From a nutritional standpoint, the daily sodium intake should be limited o 2.3 g (equivalent to 6 g NaCl).
A healthy kidney regulates the excretion sodium according to the requirement.
Under normal conditions 90 percent of the ingested sodium is excreted in the urine in the form of sodium chloride and sodium phosphate.
Sodium is present in all foods. A low intake of sodium can be achieved by a non-salty diet or by using diet salt. According to archeologists, salt was in general use for thousands of years.
What are the roles of sodium in human body?
