Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Fluorescent Nanoparticles for the Measurement of Ion Concentration in Biological Systems
Published on: July 4, 2011
Making Sense of the Science of Sodium
1is university professor emeritus at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. He is an endocrinologist with a primary focus on quantitative nutritional physiology and on the formulation of nutritional policy.
Abstract:
Despite the Institute of Medicine's commitment to base its nutrient intake recommendations in evidence, the 2004/2005 Dietary Reference Intakes for sodium were not supported by evidence, as the subsequent 2013 Institute of Medicine review admitted. In this review, I suggest an approach to setting nutrient intake requirements based in physiology. Briefly, the requirement of a given nutrient can best be said to be the intake that calls for the least adaptation or compensation by the intact organism. For sodium, evidence indicates that such an intake is typically between 3000 and 5000 mg/d.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Sodium and Potassium
Sodium Regulation
Sodium ions make up approximately 90% of extracellular cations, with a normal blood plasma concentration of 136–148 mEq/L. A decrease in blood volume and pressure triggers the release of renin from granular cells in the juxtaglomerular complex (JGC), primarily...
Roles of Electrolytes: Sodium and Potassium
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Ionic Strength: Effects on Chemical Equilibria
In this solution, the primary...
Ionic Strength: Overview
Theory of Strong Electrolytes
![Camera-based Measurements of Intracellular [Na+] in Murine Atrial Myocytes](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F59600.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
