What is the recommended daily sodium intake?

Recommended Daily Sodium Intake

The recommended daily sodium intake is less than 2,300 mg per day for the general population, with further reduction to 1,500 mg per day for specific populations including those with hypertension, African Americans, and adults over 51 years of age. 1

General Recommendations

• General population: Limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day 2, 1
• Special populations: Further reduce to 1,500 mg per day for:
  • People with hypertension
  • African Americans
  • Adults aged 51 years and older
  • People with diabetes
  • People with chronic kidney disease 2, 1

These special populations represent approximately 70% of the US adult population 3, 4.

Health Impact of Sodium Intake

Excess sodium consumption is strongly linked to:

• Increased blood pressure
• Higher risk of cardiovascular disease
• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Kidney disease 2, 5

Even modest reductions in sodium intake can yield substantial health benefits:

• Reducing sodium intake by 1,000-1,200 mg/day can lower blood pressure significantly 2
• Population-wide reduction could prevent 60,000-120,000 new cases of coronary heart disease and 32,000-66,000 cases of stroke annually 4

Current Consumption Patterns

The average sodium intake in the United States far exceeds recommendations:

• Average intake among persons aged ≥2 years: 3,266 mg/day (excluding table salt) 5
• Only 9.6% of US adults meet their applicable recommended sodium limit 4
• Only 5.5% of adults in the special populations group consume less than 1,500 mg/day 4

Sources of Dietary Sodium

Understanding sodium sources is crucial for effective reduction:

• 75% comes from salt added during food processing by manufacturers
• 10% occurs naturally in foods
• 5-10% comes from salt added at the table or during cooking 1

Practical Strategies for Sodium Reduction

1. Read food labels carefully

   • Choose foods with less than 140 mg or 5% DV of sodium per serving
   • Select foods with no more than 170-280 mg (6-10% DV) of sodium 2

2. Choose fresh over processed foods

   • Replace processed and canned foods with fresh alternatives
   • Limit consumption of fast foods 1

3. Modify cooking habits

   • Reduce salt added during cooking
   • Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasonings instead 1

4. Be aware of hidden sodium sources

   • Certain medications (antacids, laxatives, NSAIDs) can contain significant sodium
   • Some treatments like Kayexalate® contain 100 mg sodium per 100g 2

Special Considerations

• Salt substitutes: Products replacing sodium chloride with potassium chloride are contraindicated in patients with hyperkalemia 2, 1

• Children: Sodium requirements are lower for children:

  • Ages 1-3 years: 1,000 mg/day
  • Ages 4-8 years: 1,200 mg/day 2

• Athletes: Those with extensive sweating may require some sodium replacement due to significant losses 1

Common Pitfalls in Sodium Management

1. Underestimating sodium intake

   • Most people are unaware of their actual sodium consumption
   • Self-reported intake typically underestimates true consumption 3

2. Focusing only on table salt

   • Most sodium (75%) comes from processed foods, not salt added at the table
   • Eliminating table salt alone is insufficient for meaningful reduction 1

3. Ignoring medication sources

   • Some medications contain significant sodium
   • Consider pharmaceutical sources when calculating total intake 2

4. Lack of consistent monitoring

   • Regular assessment of sodium intake and blood pressure response is essential
   • For patients with kidney disease, sodium balance should be measured every 6 months 2

While some recent research suggests moderate sodium intake (3-5 g/day) may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk 6, 7, the preponderance of evidence from major guidelines supports limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg/day for the general population and 1,500 mg/day for special populations to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular risk 2, 1.