Sodium dosage

Sodium is an essential mineral element , widely present in food, nutraceutical products, cosmetic formulations, and certain environmental matrices. Its concentration is 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 precise quantification of sodium in foods, supplements, water, 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 food products;
• pH control and functional properties in industrial formulations.

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

Objectives and benefits of sodium measurement

Sodium measurement addresses several analytical challenges:

• Quality control of food and nutraceutical products;
• Regulatory compliance with European labelling directives (INCO);
• Nutritional assessment of reduced-fat or fortified 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) : a fast 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 (selective ion electrode) : simple solution for rapid routine analyses, especially on water or liquid solutions.

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

Industrial applications

Sodium measurement is an indispensable tool in several fields:

• Food industry : calculation of total salt, formulation of reduced-fat 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 salinity of water, effluents and soils.

Carrying out analyses at YesWeLab

YesWeLab works with a network of partner laboratories specializing 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 limit of detection and a technical interpretation in relation to 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.