Sodium+(Na)

Sodium is an alkaline metal commonly found in Nature. The body contains approximately 100g. It is contained in all the liquids surrounding cells (interstitial liquids, circulatory liquids) 95% of excretion occurs through urine, 4.5% through stools, and .5% through perspiration. 98% of the metal is found in extracellular liquids.

=Role of Sodium= -Maintains the acid/base balance and the osmotic pressure of the extracellular liquid. -Controls the distribution and regulation of water outside the cells -Participates in muscular contraction and the transmission of nerve impulses. -Regulates secretory gland functions

=Pro-Compounds= Vitamin D and Potassium

=Anti-Compounds= Chlorine/Potassium deficiency

=Daily Requirements= Adult: 1-2g./day

This is exceeded with table salt (sodium chloride) containing 400mg/day. 30-40% of this culture suffers from hypertension as a result of excessive sodium intake.

=Deficiency= -Loss of Appetite -Intestinal Gas -Weight Loss -Vomiting -Muscle Wasting -Hypotension

=Excess= -Water Retention

=Sources= Contents in mg./100mg.
 * Kitchen Salt || 40,000 ||  || Smoked Eel || 800 ||
 * Dried Seaweed || 5000 ||  || Sardines in Oil || 760 ||
 * Smoked Ham || 2300 ||  || Parmesan || 750 ||
 * Delicatessen Meats || 800/2500 ||  || Smoked Herring || 700 ||
 * Shrimp || 1600 ||  || Brie || 690 ||
 * Industrial Sauces || 1500 ||  || Emmenthal Cheese || 650 ||
 * Pretzels || 1500 ||  || Sauerkraut || 650 ||
 * Caviar || 1500 ||  || Mayonnaise || 650 ||
 * Dry Sausages || 1400 ||  || Tomato Preserves || 590 ||
 * Vichy Water (1L) || 1300/1700 ||  || Whole Wheat Bread || 520 ||
 * Smoked Meat || 1300 ||  || Salted Butter || 400 ||
 * Salami || 1250 ||  || Crab || 400 ||
 * Pickles/Capers || 1200/1600 ||  || Chips || 340 ||
 * Camembert || 1100 ||  || Lobster || 300 ||
 * Sausages || 1100 ||  || Biscuits || 300 ||
 * Kipper || 1000 ||  || Vegetable Preserves || 300 ||
 * Cooked Ham || 900 ||  || Shellfish || 300/400 ||
 * Roquefort || 850 ||  || Oysters || 290 ||
 * Bresse Blue Cheese || 850 ||  || Rusk/Melba Toast || 260 ||
 * Gruyere Cream || 820 ||  || Mustard || 250 ||
 * Caviar, fish eggs || 800 ||  || Margarine || 250 ||

Sodium-rich Supplements
-Seawater -Seaweed -Plasma Marinum -Powdered Oysters -Seitan -Tempeh

Low Sodium Foods
-Fruits, Fresh Fruit Juices, Dried Fruits -Vegetables (cooked w/out salt) -Food grains and Flour -Milk -Soft White Cheese, Yogurt -Beverages: beer, cider -Oil -Fresh Fish (cooked w/out salt) -Meat (cooked w/out salt) -Jam (w/out salicylate -Pastries (w/out bicarbonate) -Pasta (cooked w/out salt)

Available Salt-free Products
-Salt Free Biscuits -Salt Free Bread -Salt Free Vegetable Preserves -Salt Free Dough/Pasta -Salt Free Sardines in Oil -Salt Free Cooked Meals -Salt Free Tomato Sauce, Gruyere cream, Pickles, Mayonnaise

Be careful with the following sodium-rich foods: -Deli Meats -Cheese -Canned Food -Milk Fermentations -Marinades -Soups -Sauces -Ready-to-eat Meals

=Therapeutic Indications= -Digestive Losses: diarrhea, vomiting, ect -Great physical efforts, physical exercise -Excessive Diuretics or laxatives

=
==================================================================== //Medical Nutrition:// POTASSIUM/SODIUM (Neptunite) • Sodium • -Make up majority of electrolytes in the body • -Maintain fluid balance in the body; regulate transport mechanisms in cellular membranes • -Maintain membrane potentials • -Sodium comes primarily from table salt • -For millennia salt has been a prize possession, seasoning and preservative, causing many wars • -In 1937 it was found to be an essential nutrient • -Characteristics: K+ and Na+ are actively transported in or out of cells, water soluble, cooked out easily. • -90-98% of Na+ is absorbed in SI. Aldosterone (Cortisol can induce this and gan cao has effects like this) increases excretion of K+ and spares aldosterone. • -Loss with sweating of both K and Na, (not iron) • -200mg Na+ required/day, but in hot climates, 2200mg/day is lost • -With intense sweating and a lot of Na+ is lost, aldosterone will increase and keep the kidneys from letting any Na+ go, with loss of K+ through excretion.

Function
• -Acid base balance –both Na+ and K+ • -Electrical activity of nerves and muscles in the heart, if low there is weakness, if high, there is spasmodic, cramping action in the muscles -arrhythmias. K+ is essential for glycogen storage, and deficiency leads to fatigue and weakness. • -Water balance- Na+ is pumped out and K+ is pumped in, it the ATP pumps don’t work cellular swelling occurs. Astragalus improves the pump function. • -Kidney and adrenal function

• RDA: Na+ .5-2gm/d K+ .8-5gm/d (Orally K+ can only be taken in 99mg doses due to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; time release is available – SloK). • Avg. intake: 3-7 gm Na+ 2gm/d K+ (Processed food has more Na+, less K+) • ODI: Na+ .5-2 gm K+ .5 –10 gm • -1tsp salt is = 2gm Na+ (40% Na+) ~See p130

Deficiency
• K+ weakness, fatigue, confusion, irritability, heart disturbances, M. cramps, abd bloating, nerve conduction problems. • Lab- serum/ RBC • Sources of K+: avocados, tomato sauce, apricots, potatoes, and cantaloupe… • Sources of Na+: Lox, anchovy paste, soy sauce, cheese, McDonald’s ¼ w/cheese… • Etiology of K+ deficiency: • -Diarrhea/vomiting/ fasting • -Diuretics • -COPD and diabetes acidosis –glucose loss will carry K+ with it. Acidosis buffer –excretion of K+. • -Glucocorticoids • -Perspiration extreme sweating- exercise

Treatment
• 1. Hypertension • 2. Cancer • 3. Arrhythmias • 4. Atherosclerosis/CVD • 5. Glaucoma • 6. Stroke prevention • 7. DM improves glucose tolerance • 8. Fatigue • 9. Postural Hypotension in elderly

• Toxicity: K+ Supplemental K+ • Magnesium excess can cause fecal excretion- via diarrhea • Diuretics some increase excretion (Thiazide), while some increase retention and can cause excess- spironolactone • Caffeine increases excretion of K+- careful with HBP -Na+ • Increased Na+ can cause a relative deficiency of K+-> HBP, osteoporosis, renal stones, CHF. • Lithium causes Na+ excretion and can cause deficiency.