Is Sodium Citrate Harmful?

Trisodium citrate is used in several industries, but most often you will find it in preserves, where it is used as a preservative. What is sodium citrate and where else is it used on a daily basis?

What does trisodium citrate look like?

Sodium citrate looks like colorless, small crystals, granules or powder, odorless, with a slightly sour and brackish taste. This inconspicuous, organic chemical compound from the citrate group consists of sodium and citric acid.

The name sodium citrate can be misleading because three salts of the same element are hidden under the same name:

• monosodium citrate ,
• disodium citrate,
• trisodium citrate .

In practice, salt with three sodium ions is most often used in industry.

Trisodium citrate, or E331 in food processing

Sodium citrate (found in the food processing industry under the name E331 ) is used as:

• flavor additive,
• preservative,
• sequestrant.

The characteristic sour taste makes sodium citrate commonly used in the production of sweet carbonated drinks (e.g. 7Up, Kinley and others with a lemon or orange flavor). It perfectly dissolves in water and leaves no residue.

The use of sodium citrate as a preservative ensures that food products retain their natural color, the fruit does not turn brown and the fats remain fresh. The chemical compound maintains the appropriate pH, hindering the growth of mold and microorganisms, making sweetened products longer edible. It also exhibits emulsifying properties, making the consistency of preserves velvety and uniform.

You will find sodium citrate mainly in fruit preserves (jams, jellies, marmalades), but also in products such as:

• Mayonnaises, mustards, salad dressings,
• Alkohol free drinks,
• UHT milk or condensed milk,
• delicatessen,
• ice cream and sweets.

Finally, trisodium citrate serves as a sequestrant, i.e. it combines with heavy metal ions, "pulling" them out of the product. The toxic effects of elements such as mercury, lead and cadmium on the human body have been scientifically confirmed and can cause many serious diseases.

The use of sodium citrate in other industries

Citric acid sodium salt is also commonly used in medicine. It has strong anticoagulant properties, reducing blood clotting and facilitating the penetration of certain substances into the body.

For this reason, it is commonly used during blood tests, dialysis and heparin injections. Emergency stations also use trisodium citrate solution during transport or blood transfusion.

For some time, this chemical compound was used in the production of isotonic drinks, and its effects were supposed to improve the performance of long-distance runners. Due to repeated health incidents related to the laxative effect of sodium, the producers gave up on this idea.

In the cosmetics industry, sodium citrate helps to maintain a constant pH of products, it also acts as a fragrance and masking substance, "covering" the natural aroma of the product. As with the food industry, it is used as a purifying sequestrant.

The effect of sodium citrate on the body

The harmfulness of sodium citrate is difficult to assess unequivocally. Organizations that test the quality of chemical ingredients and food additives have awarded it the GRAS ( Generally Recognized as Safe ) status. This means that salt is generally considered safe when used in a standard way.

In addition, the CIR ( Cosmetic Ingredient Review ) organization has recognized sodium citrate as a safe ingredient in cosmetic products at the following concentration:

• in non-rinse and rinse-off products - maximum 10%,
• in products intended for dilution - maximum 0.9%.

It is generally accepted that the effect of sodium citrate on the body is very small or even non-existent. This is supported by the fact that this chemical compound is excreted in the urine and is not absorbed into the body. It also does not cause the deposition of harmful metabolites.

Due to the proven safety of trisodium citrate, it is commonly used in cosmetics for children (e.g. shampoos, soaps).

So can we talk about the harmfulness of sodium citrate ? In one of the in vivo studies on animals, the NOAEL ( No Observed Adverse Effects ) was determined at the level of 2500 mg/kilogram of body weight.

You will almost certainly not exceed such a high standard by providing the chemical compound only from food.

What's at stake if you overdose on sodium citrate ?

If you exceed the permissible limit of sodium salt, the following health problems may occur:

• alkalosis (alkalosis) - disturbance of the acid-base balance leads to an excessive increase in the pH index;
• disturbed work of the muscular system (including the heart muscle) - too high a level of potassium in the blood increases the loss of calcium and may disturb the functioning of the calcium and phosphate metabolism, and as a result cause painful muscle cramps;
• excess sodium citrate leads to vomiting, diarrhea and weakening of the effect of some drugs.

However, no studies indicate a negative effect of sodium citrate on the organisms of pregnant women. The food additive also does not cause mutagenesis or teratogenic defects. A slight overdose may cause an allergic reaction (rash, headaches and dizziness).

Symptoms will be especially severe in people who are allergic to this compound. Fortunately , sodium citrate allergies are rare.

If you need to buy sodium citrate , choose only safe sources. In our online warehouse you will find certified products from reliable suppliers. We guarantee low prices and economical packaging.

Discover a new quality with Distripark!