Sodium

What it is

Sodium (as sodium chloride or electrolyte salt) is the principal extracellular cation required for human fluid balance and cellular transport. In Velobiotics active endurance and protein formulations, such as His-Biotics Sport Multivitamin and Probiotics Collagen Peptides Powder, sodium is included with microencapsulated probiotics to maintain cellular hydration, nerve signaling, and intestinal nutrient absorption.

Also known as: Sodium Chloride, Electrolyte Sodium

What it does

• Regulates extracellular fluid volume, plasma osmolality, and systemic hydration status.
• Generates membrane electrical potential for nerve action potentials and muscular contraction.
• Drives secondary active transcellular transport of glucose, amino acids, and minerals via SGLT1 cotransporters.
• Maintains acid-base balance and cardiovascular blood pressure homeostasis.

Amplified by probiotics

Sodium absorption in the intestinal mucosa occurs primarily via sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLT1) and Na+/H+ exchangers (NHE3). Probiotic lactic acid bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) that directly stimulate apical NHE3 exchangers, enhancing mucosal sodium and water absorption. Concurrently, microencapsulated probiotics protect tight junction proteins, preventing pathologically elevated paracellular permeability and supporting rapid electrolyte rehydration during physical exertion.

Typical dose

100–500 mg/day (in sports/supplement contexts)

The evidence

Human clinical research establishes sodium as an obligatory nutrient for cellular hydration, fluid retention during exercise, and intestinal nutrient absorption via cotransport mechanisms. (Maughan RJ, Shirreffs SM. 2019, Curr Sports Med Rep; Farquhar WB, et al. 2015, J Am Coll Cardiol; Thomas DT, et al. 2016, Med Sci Sports Exerc).

1. Maughan RJ, Shirreffs SM. Muscle Cramping During Exercise: Is It Fatigue or Electrolyte Deficit? Curr Sports Med Rep. 2019;18(6):202-206 PubMed ↗
2. Farquhar WB, et al. Dietary Sodium and Health: More Than Just Blood Pressure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;65(10):1042-1050 PubMed ↗
3. Thomas DT, et al. American College of Sports Medicine Joint Position Statement. Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48(3):543-568 PubMed ↗

Safety & who should check first

Dietary sodium is abundant; supplemental inclusion in sports/recovery products is targeted for hydration replacement. Individuals with salt-sensitive hypertension should monitor overall dietary sodium intake.