Sodium in diet

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Sodium in diet

Alternative Names:

Diet - sodium (salt)

Recommendations:

Dietary sodium is measured in milligrams (mg). Table salt is 40% sodium; one teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 mg of sodium.

The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences recommends an approximate daily range of 1,100 to 3,300 mg of sodium for adults. For people with high blood pressure, hypertension experts are recommending no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. The average sodium intake in the United States is between 4,000 and 5,000 mg per day.

Patients with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and kidney disease may need to be on low-sodium diets as prescribed by their doctor.

Specific recommendations regarding sodium intake do not exist for infants, children, and adolescents. Eating habits and attitudes about food formed during childhood are likely to influence eating habits for life, and for this reason, moderate intake of sodium is suggested.

Review Date: 10/27/2004
Reviewed By: Kevin Pho, M.D., Attending, Internal Medicine, Boston VA Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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