Sodium carbonate

Sodium carbonate is a mineral salt of natural origin, found in certain minerals such as natrite, and industrially produced via the Solvay process. In the food industry, it is used as a multifunctional additive: acidity regulator, leavening agent, anticaking agent, stabiliser and thickener. It carries the European code E500. Its two components have documented physiological roles. Sodium contributes to maintaining fluid balance and nerve impulse transmission, while carbonate ions are involved in regulating the pH of blood and body fluids. These elements are naturally supplied through a regular diet. In the context of supplementation, sodium carbonate is mainly used as a technological excipient in the formulation of tablets or capsules, where it contributes to the stability and shaping of the product. At the doses typically used in food supplements, it is considered well tolerated by the body.