Sodium Cautions
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Certain people should not take sodium supplements at all (or even food high in salt):
- People with congestive heart failure
People with congestive heart failure should not take sodium supplements because they can elevate blood pressure and cause further stress on a heart that is not in a healthy condition - sodium supplements may increase risk of having a heart attack in these people. - People with fluid retention
People experiencing fluid retention for any reason should not take sodium supplements as they will only exacerbate it and make it worse. - People with high blood pressure or a family history of high blood pressure
Sodium supplements should not be taken by people with high blood pressure (or even a family history of high blood pressure) as the sodium can elevate blood pressure even further in some people and cause an even higher risk for heart attack or stroke. These people are recommended to eat more foods rich in potassium to help balance the existing sodium levels in their body and help reduce blood pressure. - People with liver cirrhosis
People with cirrhosis of the liver should not take sodium supplements as it could cause an exacerbation of their condition.
Certain people should not take sodium supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice to ensure sodium supplementation does not conflict adversely with their condition:
- People who have any heart or blood vessel condition
- People with bleeding problems
- People with epilepsy
- People with kidney disease
Certain people should not take sodium supplements without first consulting their doctor for advice to ensure sodium supplementation does not conflict adversely with their condition
Toxic Levels of Sodium
Sodium is toxic at doses greater than 18g (18000mg).
Sodium intake should be less than 2.4-3.0g per day to ensure optimal health and reduce any toxic effects.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Acute
Acute toxicity from taking too much in sodium supplements - over 18g can cause the following symptoms:
- Excess salivation and thirst*
- Excess water intake
- Exhaustion
- High blood pressure*
- Hyperactivity
- Problems with cognition*
- Seizures and convulsions*
- Severe fluid retention
- Vomiting
* People who experience the highlighted symptoms should seek immediate emergency treatment.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms - Chronic
Chronic toxicity of sodium from taking higher than the therapeutic dose of supplements for a long time can cause the following symptoms:
- Anaemia
- Fluid retention
- High blood pressure
- Thirst
- Weight loss
People experiencing any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their sodium supplements and seek medical advice. Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of sodium is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.