Sodium dosage

Sodium is an essential mineral element , widely present in food, nutraceutical products, cosmetic formulations and certain environmental matrices. Its dosage constitutes a key parameter for quality control and nutritional compliance of products.

Sodium analysis is performed by ICP-OES , ICP-MS or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) , depending on the sensitivity and nature of the samples. These techniques allow for accurate quantification of sodium in foods, supplements, waters or topical products.

Sodium: a major nutritional and technological element

Sodium plays several physiological and technological roles:

• regulation of osmotic pressure and water balance ;
• participation in nerve transmission and muscle contraction ;
• improvement of taste and stability in foodstuffs;
• control of pH and functional properties in industrial formulations.

In the food industry, sodium measurement is essential for calculating salt content (NaCl) and meeting nutritional labeling requirements. In cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, it is used to verify the ionic composition and stability of products.

Objectives and interest of sodium dosage

Sodium dosage responds to several analytical challenges:

• Quality control of food and nutraceutical products;
• Regulatory compliance with European labeling directives (INCO);
• Nutritional assessment of light or enriched products;
• Monitoring of formulations in topical products or technical solutions;
• Environmental monitoring of water and effluents.

Frequently analyzed matrices include:

• solid and liquid foods (processed products, drinks, canned goods);
• plant extracts and nutraceutical powders;
• drinking water, process water or wastewater;
• cosmetics, ionic solutions, gels and lotions.

Analytical methods used

The choice of method depends on the nature of the sample and the level of precision required:

• ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) : rapid and robust method for the simultaneous determination of sodium and other minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium).
• ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) : ultra-sensitive method, suitable for low concentrations or complex matrices.
• AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy) : a classic, precise method commonly used in quality control laboratories.
• Electrochemistry (ion-selective electrode) : simple solution for rapid routine analyses, particularly on water or liquid solutions.

These methods can be supplemented by the determination of potassium or sodium chloride in order to obtain a complete ionic profile.

Industrial applications

Sodium measurement is an essential tool in several areas:

• Food industry : calculation of total salt, formulation of light products, nutritional labeling.
• Nutraceuticals : control of mineral intake in food supplements or functional drinks.
• Animal nutrition : balancing mineral formulations in livestock feed.
• Cosmetics : control of ionic solutions and formulations containing sodium salts (sodium lactate, sodium benzoate, etc.).
• Environment : monitoring of the salinity of water, effluents and soils.

Carrying out analyses at YesWeLab

YesWeLab works with a network of partner laboratories specialized in mineral analysis and accredited according to the ISO 17025 standard. The methods used (ICP-OES, AAS, ICP-MS) are validated, calibrated and adapted to each type of matrix to guarantee reliable and traceable results.

Each analysis report includes the sodium content expressed in mg/kg or mg/L, the method used, the detection limit and a technical interpretation in relation to the regulatory thresholds.

Since 2020, YesWeLab has been supporting manufacturers, formulators, and laboratories with their mineral and nutritional analysis needs. Thanks to its digital platform, request management, sample tracking, and results reception are centralized and simplified.