Hidden sodium in effervescent food supplements : labelling practices and product composition

Žmitek, Katja (author), Hribar, Maša (author), Hristov, Hristo (author), Vičič, Vid (author), Pravst, Igor (author)

Effervescent food supplements contain mineral carbonates and organic acids that enable carbon dioxide release. While sodium content is well established for effervescent medicines, data for food supplements remain limited. Sodium labelling is not mandatory for food supplements in the European Union. Effervescent tablets are consumed as beverages and may be used daily, potentially contributing to total sodium intake relevant for cardiovascular health. The aim of this study was to examine the sodium content and labelling practices of the effervescent food supplements available in Slovenia. A cross-sectional representative sample of 71 effervescent supplements containing vitamins and/or minerals was analysed. Sodium content was quantified using an accredited inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy method. The mean sodium content per dose unit was 253 ± 108 mg. The highest mean levels were observed in products containing vitamins&minerals (N = 18; 314 ± 109 mg), and the lowest in calcium containing products (N = 9; 136 ± 59 mg). With recommended intakes of up to three dose units per day, sodium exposure may reach 740 mg, corresponding to up to 37% of the EFSA reference intake of 2000 mg/day. Effervescent food supplements can represent a notable and often overlooked source of dietary sodium.

• Language: English
• Keywords: food supplements, dietary supplements, food labelling, sodium, effervescent tablets, salt
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 7 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 155, art. 109224
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185254
• UDC: 612.39
• ISSN on article: 0889-1575
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109224
• COBISS.SI-ID: 283837443
• Publication date in RUL: 30.07.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of food composition and analysis
• Shortened title: J. food compos. anal.
• Publisher: Academic Press
• ISSN: 0889-1575
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25742848

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: nutricistika, prehranska dopolnila, označevanje živil, natrij, šumeče tablete, sol

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P3-0395
• Name: Prehrana in javno zdravje