The accumulation of sodium in the body in the body is mainly responsible for the retention of water in edema. The average daily intake of salt is normally about 10 g. if no salt is added at table it is about 5 g. and if salt is withheld from cooking about 3 g. Special diets can be devised which contain less than 1 g. of sodium but to achieve this it is necessary to take salt- free butter or margarine, salt free bread, little milk or cheese, no bacon, salty fish, sauces meat extracts or tinned foods (except fruit). Care must be taken not to prescribe medicine containing sodium e.g. stomach powders, and to avoid baking powder in cooking. Sodium free ‘salt’ is available for table use. Such severe restrictions are only necessary if edema cannot otherwise be controlled and this is rarely the case since the introduction of chlorothiazide and morally. For practical purposes if no salt is added at table and chlorothiazide or mercurial diuretics are given as required there need be little or no limitation of the amount of fluid taken by mouth.
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