A 24-hour urine collection is the most accurate way to measure how much salt you really eat. About 90% of the sodium you take in leaves in your urine, so the total tells you what a food diary can't. Enter your lab result to see your daily sodium and salt intake.
Enter a urine sodium between 5 and 400 mmol/L.
Enter a volume between 300 and 6,000 mL (0.3 to 6 L).
Enter a 24-hour total between 10 and 600 mmol (230 to 13,800 mg).
A 24-hour urine collection is ordered separately by your physician. It isn't part of the standard Insyght draw.
Sodium intake changes day to day, so one collection is a snapshot. This estimate is for education only and isn't a diagnosis.
Urine sodium to salt intake chart
| 24-hour urine sodium (mmol) | Estimated sodium intake (mg/day) | Salt (g/day) | How it compares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 1,480 | 3.8 | American Heart Association ideal |
| 78 | 2,000 | 5.1 | World Health Organization limit |
| 90 | 2,300 | 5.8 | US Dietary Guidelines limit |
| 133 | 3,400 | 8.6 | Typical US intake |
| 176 | 4,500 | 11.4 | High |
What can affect your result
Missed urine is the most common reason a result comes back too low.
- Collect every drop: empty your bladder when you start and discard it, then collect everything for 24 hours, ending with the next morning's first urine at the same time.
- Eat as you normally do: cutting salt on collection day hides your true intake.
- Can read lower than true: heavy sweating from exercise or heat, and missed samples.
- Can read higher than true: a diuretic (water pill) that was just started or taken irregularly.
- Day-to-day swings: two or three collections give a more reliable average than one.
Frequently asked questions
How much sodium should I eat a day?
What's the difference between sodium and salt?
Why use a 24-hour urine test instead of a food diary?
Is a spot urine sodium test the same?
Does my blood sodium show how much salt I eat?
Insyght measures blood sodium, potassium, kidney function, glucose, lipids and dozens more markers in one draw, reviewed by a physician against optimal ranges. $199 a year.
