Scientists have recently discovered that the excess sodium in the body can lead to the formation of stones in the kidneys and various problems with the bones and joints.
It turned out that the relationship between sodium and calcium in the body is tight and has impact on health. When a large amount of salt is consumed, the level of sodium in the body reaches a critical level. Through multiple mechanisms our body loses sodium through urine. The problem is that along with the sodium our body loses calcium too. The more sodium is lost through urine, the greater is the concentration of calcium in the urine. While the elimination of sodium is relatively safe for the urinary system, it is not the same for calcium. It has the feature that accumulates in the kidneys and eventually leads to the formation of stones.
The elimination of sodium leads to the loss of calcium which is necessary for the normal bone structure. As a consequence of this the mechanism leads to the weakening of the bones, and their recovery becomes slower so that they become susceptible to osteoporosis and arthritis. The risk of bone fractures is increased also.
Our kidneys act as a filter - leaking sodium while calcium may remain. This is associated with a variety of problems - accumulated calcium is capable of attracting minerals and metals that eventually form the cornerstone - said Todd Alexander, the leading author of the study conducted at the University of Alberta in the United States.
During the research, the authors have identified a molecule that has a dual role in our body - regulating the levels of sodium and calcium. Its activation lowers sodium and calcium. In the earlier studies also was revealed a statistically significant relationship between the amount of salt in food and the risk of kidney stones and bone disease.
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