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WELLNESSWEEK
The Science
Science & Evidence
The science behind SALTD
SALTD is built around one simple idea: for people living with POTS, dysautonomia and chronic dizziness, the problem often isn’t “not enough water” — it’s not enough blood volume. Sodium helps the body hold onto fluid, expand blood volume and support circulation. This page shows the evidence behind that.
High-sodium hydration, not wellness hype
In clinics, high-sodium diets and salt loading are already used to help people with low blood volume, POTS and orthostatic intolerance. SALTD translates that approach into a practical, zero-sugar electrolyte you can actually use day to day.
Sodium-first
Zero sugar
Chronic illness–aware
Evidence-informed
What you’ll find on this page
This library doesn’t replace medical advice. It pulls together key evidence on:
- How sodium increases plasma and blood volume
- Why people with POTS and dysautonomia are often told to increase salt + fluids
- Why most sports drinks don’t contain enough sodium for this group
- How high-sodium strategies are already used in clinics and guidelines
Each category below groups studies by theme, then translates them into plain language. Where possible, we link out so you can read the original research.
Category A
Sodium & Plasma Volume
How sodium intake affects blood volume, circulation and symptoms like dizziness and fatigue.
Core mechanism
Category B
POTS, Dysautonomia & Orthostatic Intolerance
Why many patients are advised to increase sodium and fluids, and how that impacts standing tolerance and heart rate.
Category C
Sodium vs Sugar in Hydration
The difference between “sports drinks for sweating athletes” and high-sodium support for people who can’t hold onto water.
Category D
High Sodium Intake & Safety
When higher sodium targets are used, who they’re appropriate for, and why context matters.
Category E
Glycerol, Hyperhydration & Future Formulas
Early and emerging research on fluid-retention strategies that inform future SALTD formulations (like HydroLock™).
Important: Always speak with your doctor or specialist before making big changes to your sodium intake, especially if you have heart, kidney or blood pressure issues. This page is for education, not personal medical advice.
What this means in real life
- For many people with POTS and dysautonomia, low blood volume is part of why standing up feels brutal.
- Increasing sodium (under medical guidance) can help the body hold onto more fluid and support circulation.
- Most standard sports drinks don’t contain enough sodium for medically high-sodium needs.
- SALTD is designed to make high-sodium hydration practical, repeatable and zero-sugar.
Key research, translated
Below are example studies grouped by theme. Each includes a short summary plus a “SALTD in plain English” explanation. You can swap these for specific papers as you build out the library.
Category A — Sodium & Plasma Volume
Acute sodium intake and plasma volume expansion
Short-term higher sodium intake increased plasma volume and improved markers of circulating blood volume compared with a low-sodium diet.
SALTD, in plain English: More sodium means your body can hold onto more fluid. For people who feel lightheaded and “low on blood volume”, that extra volume can be the difference between coping and crashing.
Dietary sodium loading and orthostatic tolerance
Participants who increased sodium intake showed better tolerance to upright posture and fewer orthostatic symptoms during tilt testing than on a low-salt diet.
SALTD, in plain English: Standing up becomes less brutal when blood volume is higher. Sodium loading is one of the main tools clinics already use for patients who faint or feel dizzy on standing.
Category B — POTS, Dysautonomia & Orthostatic Intolerance
High-sodium diet recommendations in POTS
Review describing how many POTS patients are advised to consume significantly higher sodium (often 3–10 g/day) alongside increased fluids to manage symptoms and improve standing tolerance.
SALTD, in plain English: For a lot of people with POTS, high sodium isn’t a “cheeky snack” — it’s literally part of the treatment plan their specialist recommends.
Salt supplementation in syncope and POTS
Across multiple short-term studies, salt loading increased plasma volume, improved orthostatic hemodynamics and reduced symptoms in patients with vasovagal syncope and POTS, with minimal impact on resting blood pressure.
SALTD, in plain English: In the right patients, more salt can mean fewer blackouts, fewer “my heart is racing when I stand up” episodes, and better day-to-day function.
Category C — Sodium vs Sugar in Hydration
Electrolyte composition and fluid retention
Compared different drink formulas and found that sodium content was the main driver of fluid retention, while sugar played a smaller role.
SALTD, in plain English: Sugar doesn’t do the heavy lifting for hydration — sodium does. That’s why SALTD prioritises sodium and leaves sugar out.
Oral rehydration solutions and sodium concentration
Solutions with higher sodium supported rehydration more effectively in medical settings than low-sodium drinks, especially in patients with fluid loss.
SALTD, in plain English: Hospital-style rehydration drinks are built around sodium levels, not marketing flavours. SALTD leans into that same principle, but in a way people can use at home.
Category D — High Sodium Intake & Safety
Contextual sodium targets in autonomic disorders
Discusses why standard “low-salt” advice for the general population doesn’t automatically apply to people with low blood volume or autonomic dysfunction, and when higher sodium can be appropriate.
SALTD, in plain English: Generic “cut your salt” headlines are written for the general population, not for people whose problem is too little circulating volume. Context matters.
Monitoring blood pressure with high-sodium protocols
Emphasises monitoring blood pressure and kidney function when higher sodium intakes are used therapeutically, especially in patients with cardiovascular risk.
SALTD, in plain English: High sodium can be extremely helpful for some people, but it should be done with medical supervision if you’ve got heart, kidney or blood pressure issues. SALTD encourages that, not the opposite.
Category E — Glycerol, Hyperhydration & Performance
Glycerol-induced hyperhydration and endurance performance
Shows that glycerol plus fluid can increase total body water and delay dehydration during prolonged exercise compared with fluid alone.
SALTD, in plain English: Glycerol is like a fluid “lock-in”. When paired with the right electrolytes, it can help hold onto water for longer — useful for both athletes and, potentially, some chronic illness use-cases.
Combined sodium and glycerol strategies for fluid retention
Early work exploring how sodium and glycerol together may support more sustained hydration and volume expansion than either alone.
SALTD, in plain English: This kind of research is what informs SALTD’s future thinking around advanced formulas like HydroLock™ — still rooted in science, not wellness hype.
How should I use this information?
Education, not medical advice
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Use this library to understand why high-sodium hydration exists and what questions to take to your doctor. It’s a starting point for informed conversations, not a DIY treatment manual.
Is SALTD a treatment for POTS or dysautonomia?
Clear boundaries
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No. SALTD is not a treatment, cure or replacement for prescribed medication. It’s a high-sodium, zero-sugar hydration option for adults whose healthcare provider is comfortable with them using higher-sodium strategies as part of their overall plan.
Transparency & medical disclaimer
SALTD does not diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. Our products are formulated for general use in adults who have been cleared by their healthcare provider to consume higher-sodium hydration. The studies above are provided for education only; always speak with your doctor or specialist before changing your sodium intake, especially if you have heart, kidney or blood pressure concerns.
Looking ahead: SALTD & future research
Our goal is to go beyond “science-backed” marketing claims. Over time, we plan to support observational data and, where possible, formal research on high-sodium hydration in both chronic illness and performance settings. As that work happens, it will be added here — so this page will grow with the evidence.