As essential nutrients, sodium and potassium contribute to the fundamentals of physiology and pathology of human health and disease. In clinical settings, these are two important blood electrolytes, are frequently measured and influence care decisions. Yet, blood electrolyte concentrations are usually not influenced by dietary intake, as kidney and hormone systems carefully regulate blood values.


Over the years, increasing evidence suggests that sodium and potassium intake patterns of children and adults influence long-term population health mostly through complex relationships among dietary intake, blood pressure and cardiovascular health. The public health importance of understanding these relationships, based upon the best available evidence and establishing recommendations to support the development of population clinical practice guidelines and medical care of patients is clear.


This report reviews evidence on the relationship between sodium and potassium intakes and indicators of adequacy, toxicity, and chronic disease. It updates the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) using an expanded DRI model that includes consideration of chronic disease endpoints, and outlines research gaps to address the uncertainties identified in the process of deriving the reference values and evaluating public health implications.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary
Part I
1 Introduction
2 Applying the "Guiding Principles Report"
3 Methodological Considerations
Part II
4 Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy
5 Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Toxicity
6 Potassium: Dietary Reference Intakes Based on Chronic Disease
7 Potassium Dietary Reference Intakes: Risk Characterization and
Special Considerations for Public Health
Part III
8 Sodium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Adequacy
9 Sodium: Dietary Reference Intakes for Toxicity
10 Sodium: Dietary Reference Intakes Based on Chronic Disease
11 Sodium Dietary Reference Intakes: Risk Characterization and
Special Considerations for Public Health
Part IV
12 Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions
Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations
Appendix B: Open Session Agendas
Appendix C: Committee's Assessment of the "Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality Systematic Review"
Appendix D: Indicators Not Relevant for Establishing Dietary
Reference Intake Values
Appendix E: Supplemental Literature Searches
Appendix F: Estimates of Potassium and Sodium Intakes from Breast
Milk and Complementary Foods
Appendix G: Sources of Evidence for Potassium and Sodium Intake
Distributions
Appendix H: Supplemental Risk Characterization Figures
Appendix I: Committee Member Biographical Sketches
Appendix J: Dietary Reference Intakes Summary Tables