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Chlorine is an element that has a huge impact on he alth, because it has many important functions in the body - it regulates the water and electrolyte balance and is responsible for the acid-base balance. What else is chlorine responsible for? What are the consumption standards? What are the effects and symptoms of excess and deficiency of this element?

Chlorineis a mineral element belonging to electrolytes, which in the human body occurs in the form of an anion (negative ion) chloride, mainly (70%) in extracellular fluids (including in the blood plasma). It is also found in the stomach as a component of hydrochloric acid and in saliva. In addition, it is deposited in the skin, subcutaneous tissue and bones.

Chlorine - what functions does chlorine perform in the body?

Chlorine is responsible for the acid-base balance of the body, i.e. for maintaining an appropriate ratio of cations and anions in body fluids, which determines the pH of the blood (pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity - editorial note) and the proper course of life processes.

Chlorine, along with sodium and potassium, also regulates the body's water and electrolyte balance, i.e. it controls the breakdown and amount of water in the body. Chlorine metabolism is related to sodium metabolism, i.e. a decrease or increase in blood sodium concentration is accompanied by similar changes in chlorine concentration.

In addition, chlorine activates the digestive enzymes of saliva (including amylase) and is involved in the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Chlorine deficiency symptoms and effects

Chlorine deficiency (hypochloraemia)can be the result of profuse sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, or the use of diuretics, which lead to excessive loss of chlorine in the urine. A decrease in the concentration of this element may also occur with hyperproteinemia (increased concentration of total protein in the blood) and with administration of electrolyte-free fluids.

Chlorine deficiency manifests itself as muscle weakness or painful muscle cramps, convulsions, fatigue, and headaches and dizziness. Chlorine deficiency can result in metabolic alkalosis (a condition in which the blood pH increases above 7.45).

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What products contain chlorine?

The source of chlorine in the diet is table s alt (which chemically combines chlorine with sodium), as well as other foods that contain s alt, such as, for example, cold cuts.Some amounts of this element can also be found in drinking water and mineral waters.

CHECK>>Chemical composition of mineral water, i.e. what good water contains

Chlorine - symptoms and effects of excess

Causeexcess chlorine (hyperchloraemia)may be a high sodium diet, loss of gastrointestinal carbohydrate, hypoproteinaemia (reduced total protein in the blood), or blood congestion (usually caused by dehydration) ). Excess chlorine, as well as too much sodium, can occur in Cushing's syndrome and kidney disease.

The symptoms of excess chlorine also include disorders of the neuromuscular system. In turn, it may result in the development of metabolic acidosis (this is the state of increased acidity of the blood when its pH drops below 7.35). Then fatigue, nausea and vomiting appear. Acute acidosis can manifest itself, among others, by accelerated heart rate and respiratory disorders.

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Chlorine - consumption standards. Chlorine dosage

The standard for chlorine was set at the level of sufficient consumption (AI). The values ​​of AI for individual groups of the population were determined on the basis of the values ​​adopted for sodium. It has been assumed that 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) in the diet should correspond to 1 mmol chlorine (35.5 mg).

  • Children up to 5 months of age - 190 mg / d; from the 5th month of life to the year - 570 mg / d;
  • Children from 1 to 3 years of age - 1150 mg / d; up to 4 to 6 years of age - 1550 mg / d; from 7 to 9 years of age - 1850 mg / d;
  • Boys and girls from 10 to 12 years of age - 2000 mg / d; from 13 to 18 years of age - 2300 mg / d
  • Women and men aged 19-50: 2300 mg / d; 51-65 years: 2,150 mg / d; 66-77 years: 2000 mg / d;>75 years: 1,850 mg / d;
  • Pregnant and lactating women - 2,300 mg / d

Source: Nutrition standards for the Polish population - amendment, Food and Nutrition Institute 2012, Warsaw.

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