Editing Reference Daily Intake (section)

==Sodium and potassium==

In 2010, the U.S. [[Institute of Medicine]] determined that the government should establish new consumption standards for salt to reduce the amount of [[sodium]] in the typical American diet below levels associated with higher risk of several [[cardiovascular diseases]], yet maintain consumer preferences for salt-flavored food.<ref name="iom">{{cite web|url=http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12818 |title=FDA should set standards for salt added to processed foods, prepared meals|publisher=U.S. National Academies of Science |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=30 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424215556/http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12818 |archive-date=24 April 2010}}</ref> In 1999, the average American adult ingested nearly 4,000&nbsp;mg of sodium daily, far above the National Research Council recommendation that the general U.S. population consume no more than 2,400&nbsp;mg of sodium (or 6 grams of salt) per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/hbp/salt_up2.htm |title=Statement from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program |publisher=National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD |date=1999-10-14 |access-date=2011-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320182203/http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/hbp/salt_up2.htm |archive-date=2011-03-20 }}</ref> For instance, the [[National Research Council (United States)|National Research Council]] said in 1989 that 500 milligrams of sodium per day (approximately 1,250 milligrams of table salt) "might be" a safe minimum level, based on estimated and assumed obligatory urinary, fecal, and dermal losses.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1349&page=253 |title=Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition |year=1989 |publisher=The National Academies Press |location=Washington, DC |doi=10.17226/1349 |pmid=25144070 |isbn=978-0-309-04633-6 |access-date=2011-03-30}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the daily allowance for salt is 6&nbsp;g (approximately 1.2 teaspoons, about the upper limit in the U.S.), an amount considered "too high".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8376701.stm |title=Daily salt intake allowances 'were set too high' |work=BBC News |date=2009-11-25 |access-date=2011-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3650578.stm |title=Britons told to cut salt intake |work=BBC News |date=2004-09-13 |access-date=2011-03-30}}</ref>

The Institute of Medicine advisory stated (daily intake basis): "Americans consume more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium – the amount in about 1.5 teaspoons of salt (8.7&nbsp;g) – each day. The recommended maximum daily intake of sodium – the amount above which health problems appear – is 2,300 milligrams per day for adults, about 1 teaspoon of salt (5.9&nbsp;g). The recommended adequate intake of sodium is 1,500 milligrams (3.9&nbsp;g salt) per day, and people over 50 need even less."<ref name=iom/>

The Daily Value for potassium, 4,700&nbsp;mg per day, was based on a study of men who were given 14.6 g of sodium chloride per day and treated with potassium supplements until the frequency of salt sensitivity was reduced to 20%.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Malik |first1=Vasanti S |last2=Willett |first2=Walter C |last3=Hu |first3=Frank B |title=Revised Nutrition Facts Panel: A Step Forward and More Room for Improvement |journal=JAMA |date=August 9, 2016 |volume=316 |issue=6 |pages=583–584 |doi=10.1001/jama.2016.8005 |pmid=27272093 |pmc=5287493 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate |url=https://www.nap.edu/read/10925/chapter/7#195 |publisher=National Academies Press |year=2005 |doi=10.17226/10925 |isbn=978-0-309-09169-5 |access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref>