Minerals - Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl-)

Question 1

Sodium (Na+) and Chloride (Cl-)

Answer 1

• Sodium (Na+) Is the main extracellular cation in the body
• In nature it is only found as a compound due to its high reactivity
• It is most commonly bound to the anion chloride (Cl-) forming sodium chloride (NaCl), otherwise known as salt
• All life has evolved to depend on its chemical properties
• Humans have taste and appetite systems especially as salt
• Common table salt is 40% sodium and 60% chloride by weight

Question 2

Salt

Answer 2

Clients must be guided as to what salts they should use. There are a variety of salts:
* Table salt
* Sea salt
* Himalayan salt
* Grey/Celtic salt (a type of sea salt)

Question 3

Table salt

Answer 3

• A cellular poison that originates from salt mines (I.e. rock salt) but is then refined (other minerals are removed). It is heat-treated and bleached; anticaking agent such as aluminium are added.
• The combination of just NaCl is highly damaging to cells. It has no nutritional value and contributes to hypertension, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and cancers (i.e. gastric)

Question 4

Sea salt

Answer 4

• Made by evaporating seawater
• It is unprocessed and hence has a high mineral content
• May contain more impurities such as heavy metals (extremely low concentrations)

Question 5

Himalayan salt

Answer 5

• Sourced from ancient seabeds in the Himalayas
• It contains slightly less sodium than table salt and includes 84 trace minerals (i.e. iron) which are responsible for the ‘pink’. It is the trace minerals that make the salt therapeutic

Question 6

Grey/Celtic salt
(a type of sea salt)

Answer 6

• Harvested from mineral rich clay and sand salt trays in France. The clay enhances the mineral content and contains more moisture than other salts.
• Similar nutritional profile to Himalayan

Question 7

RAAS and BP regulation

Answer 7

Plasma sodium is tightly controlled in the body, and its principal role is regulating extracellular fluid volume.
* When Na levels fall, renin is secreted by the kidneys, eventually stimulating the formation of angiotensin II in the lungs and the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex (RAAS)
* Aldosterone increases sodium (and subsequently water) reabsorption in the kidneys (increasing BP)
* Raised plasma sodium stimulates the release of antidiuretic hormone which stimulates renal reabsorption of water (increasing BP)

Question 8

Food sources

Answer 8

• Sodium and chloride are sufficiently present in most natural foods
• However, approximately 70% of the sodium intake in the typical western diet comes from processed food or is added during food preparation

Food sources of sodium / per 100 g

Natural food:
Potatoes / 6 mg
Wheat flour / 2 mg
Milk / 44 mg
Corn / 35 mg
Pork / 62 mg

After processing:
French fries / 210 mg
French baguette / 670 mg
Cheddar cheese / 621 mg
Cornflakes / 729 mg
Bacon / 2193 mg

Question 9

Daily intakes

Answer 9

• Minimum daily requirements: < 500 mg
• Maximum recommended daily Intake: 2300 mg
• Average daily intake (West): 2000 - 14,000 mg

Question 10

Functions: pH balance and BP

Answer 10

Functions: pH balance and BP
* Na and Cl help to maintain the acid–alkaline balance in the body
* Sodium increases water return and increases BP
Therapeutic uses:
* Electrolyte replacement
* Hypotension

Question 11

Functions: Nerve transmission

Answer 11

Functions:
* Na is essential in nerve impulse transmission (sodium influx into a neuron = action potential)
* Controls muscle contractions
Therapeutic uses:
* Muscle cramps

Question 12

Function: Digestion

Answer 12

Functions: Digestion
* Cl is a constituent of stomach acid – Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Therapeutic uses:
* Hypochlorhydria

Question 13

Deficiency

Answer 13

• Like potassium sodium levels are very tightly regulated by the kidneys and, therefore, deficiency is difficult to induce
• When it does occur, it is usually a result of a medical condition

Question 14

Deficiency causes

Answer 14

Deficiency is rare, but causes may include:
* Persistent diarrhoea
* Vomiting
* Chronic renal disease
* Major trauma
* Cachexia (wasting condition)
* Overuse of diuretics
* Anorexia nervosa
* Excess water intake
* Liver disease
* Ulcerative colitis

Question 15

Hypertension

Answer 15

Hypertension (high blood pressure):
* Eliminating table salt is a crucial intervention in hypertension due to its toxicity. In cases of hypertension, opt for healthy salt alternatives
* Excessive table salt intake can also contribute to coronary artery disease, strokes, gastric cancer, osteoporosis and asthma

Question 16

Hypertension susceptibility

Answer 16

Individuals who appear to be more sensitive to high salt intake:
* Chronic kidney disease
* Diabetes mellitus
* Obesity or overweight people
* People over 50
* People of African origin
* Family history of hypertension
* Genetic variants of the ‘ACE’ gene (increased risk of high blood pressure)

Question 17

Functions

Answer 17

PH balance and BP
Nerve transmission
Digestion