Related guidance:
Sodium content of medicines for constipation and diarrhoea (SPS October 2021)
Sodium content of medicines for indigestion and gastric disorders (SPS October 2021)
- Increasing the level of sodium in the body causes an expansion of the extracellular fluid which increases blood pressure. Maintaining steady sodium levels is principally achieved through regulation of excretion through the kidneys. The capacity for renal excretion is lower in the very young and the elderly.
- Increasing long-term intake of dietary sodium has been shown to increase BP across all study populations and age ranges. Prolonged high BP has been associated with stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and kidney disease and has also been linked to dementia and premature death.