Is There an Official Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Sodium?

December 15, 2025 •

3 min read

The average American consumes approximately 3,400 mg of sodium each day, significantly more than recommended health guidelines. This stark reality often leads to a crucial question: is there an official Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for sodium, and if not, how are daily limits determined?

Quick Summary

An official toxicological Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has not been established for sodium due to insufficient evidence in healthy populations. Instead, daily limits focus on chronic disease risk reduction (CDRR) based primarily on blood pressure concerns.

Key Points

No Toxicological UL: Recent assessments found insufficient evidence to establish a specific toxicological Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for sodium in healthy individuals.
Focus on CDRR: The updated Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) model uses a Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) intake, set at 2,300 mg per day for adults, based on the link to chronic illness risk.
Chronic Disease Risk: The primary concern with high sodium intake is its direct and progressive relationship with increased blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Follow Health Guidelines: Major health organizations like the FDA, WHO, and AHA provide daily sodium intake recommendations based on chronic disease risk, typically below 2,300 mg per day.
Primary Sources: The majority of dietary sodium comes from processed, packaged, and restaurant foods, not just from adding salt at home.
Reduce Intake Effectively: Practical strategies for lowering sodium include reading food labels, cooking at home more often, and using alternative seasonings.

The Shifting Science of Sodium Limits

For many years, a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 2,300 mg per day for sodium was referenced based on its link to blood pressure and chronic disease risk. However, the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) model has changed, leading to a reclassification. In 2019, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) concluded that a specific toxicological UL for sodium could not be established. This change reflects a separation of toxicological risk from the ongoing risk associated with chronic disease within the DRI framework.

Why a Toxicological UL is 'Not Determined'

The UL represents the highest average daily intake unlikely to pose adverse health effects for most healthy individuals. Establishing a UL requires identifying a specific toxicological effect and quantifying its relationship to intake. For sodium, this has been difficult. While very high acute doses are toxic, this differs from the effects of chronic excessive intake, such as increased blood pressure. NASEM found insufficient data on specific indicators of sodium toxicity in the general healthy population to set a quantitative UL. Chronic high intake's link to elevated blood pressure is now addressed under the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) category in the new DRI model.

From UL to Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR)

The revised DRI model dedicates the UL to toxicological risk, introducing the CDRR category for dietary factors impacting chronic disease risk. For adults, the sodium CDRR is 2,300 mg per day. This level signifies that exceeding this intake is linked to increased chronic disease risk, particularly through elevated blood pressure. It serves as a goal for intake reduction rather than a strict maximum.

Current Sodium Recommendations from Health Organizations

Despite the absence of a toxicological UL, leading health organizations provide sodium intake recommendations based on chronic disease risk.


Health Organization	Adult Daily Sodium Recommendation	Basis for Recommendation
Dietary Guidelines for Americans (FDA)	Less than 2,300 mg	Supports lowering blood pressure and reducing risk of chronic disease
World Health Organization (WHO)	Less than 2,000 mg	Aligns with global targets for population-wide reduction to combat non-communicable diseases
American Heart Association (AHA)	An ideal limit of 1,500 mg	Strongly recommends this limit, especially for those with or at risk for hypertension

Major Sources of Dietary Sodium

Most dietary sodium comes from processed foods, not just added salt. Key sources include:

Processed and Packaged Foods: Canned items, snacks, and processed meats.
Restaurant and Fast Food: Meals from these sources are often high in sodium.
Hidden Sodium: Sodium is also found in foods like bread, cheese, and salad dressings.

How to Reduce Your Sodium Intake

Reducing sodium intake effectively lowers blood pressure and improves heart health. Strategies include:

Checking food labels for % Daily Value of sodium.
Cooking at home to manage ingredients.
Using herbs, spices, and citrus for flavor.
Choosing fresh or frozen vegetables without added salt.
Rinsing canned beans and tuna.
Reducing high-sodium food portion sizes.

Conclusion: Understanding Your Sodium Intake

While a toxicological UL for sodium isn't set, the link between high intake and chronic disease risks, particularly high blood pressure, remains clear. The focus is now on a Chronic Disease Risk Reduction intake, set at less than 2,300 mg for adults. Adopting simple habits like limiting processed foods and using alternative seasonings can help meet health goals and reduce long-term risks. For detailed guidance, consult resources like the FDA's recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

While a toxicological UL hasn't been set for sodium, major health organizations recommend limiting intake to less than 2,300 mg per day for most adults to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like high blood pressure.

The official classification changed to reflect a new understanding of risk. The previous 2,300 mg UL was based on chronic disease risk (high blood pressure), but the updated DRI model separates toxicological risk (for the UL) from chronic disease risk (for the new CDRR category).

The CDRR for sodium is 2,300 mg per day for adults. This is a target for reducing chronic disease risk, not a strict toxicological maximum.

Excessive sodium intake is strongly linked to elevated blood pressure, which increases the risk of serious health issues, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

Yes, recommendations can vary. The FDA suggests less than 2,300 mg, the WHO recommends less than 2,000 mg, and the AHA suggests an ideal limit of 1,500 mg per day for most adults.

You can check the sodium content by looking at the 'Nutrition Facts' label on packaged foods. Pay attention to the serving size and the % Daily Value for sodium.

Hidden sodium is prevalent in many processed foods and restaurant meals. Common culprits include canned soups, processed meats, snack foods, condiments like soy sauce and dressings, and even breads and rolls.

Yes, many people find that their palate adjusts to less salty foods over time. Using herbs, spices, and other flavorings is an excellent way to enhance taste while reducing salt intake.