E331Emulsifier · Sequestrant · Stabiliser
Sodium citrates
What the research shows
PrototypeUnclear
the research on this page hasn’t settled it
2 health findings on this page · See the findings
What research says
Studies in people
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Open question
Stomach upset and exercise2
In studies, 500 mg/kg sodium citrate in capsules caused fewer stomach problems and improved short, very hard exercise.
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Open question
Stress hormones after exercise7
In athletes, sodium citrate lowered aldosterone and cortisol levels after hard cycling in the heat.
How it’s made and used
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Exercise performance3
In female athletes, sodium citrate did not speed up cycling times compared with a placebo.
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Rehydration after exercise4
In people, sodium citrates helped the body hold more water after sweating, but did not make cycling any faster.
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Hormone levels during exercise5
In people, drinking sodium citrate before running lowered aldosterone and raised blood sodium and plasma volume.
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Wrestling match performance6
In trained wrestlers, sodium citrate made the workouts feel easier but did not improve their power output.
The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.
Regulatory status
Checked Sep 2026-
European Union Permitted EUR-Lex Reg. (EC) 1333/2008
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United Kingdom Permitted FSA retained EU law
Status reflects the named register on the date checked. It is not a safety rating. A country appears here once we've found this ingredient on its official list.
How we checkProducts
The 6 most-scanned of 2,198 products on Open Food Facts that list sodium citrates.
- Coke Zero Coca-Cola · 330 ml 5 additives
- Natur mit Kokosnuss alpro · 0,5 kg 4 additives
- Coca-Cola Zero Azúcar Coca-Cola · 330 ml 4 additives
- Coca-Cola Zero 500ml черная крышка Coca-Cola · 500 ml 6 additives
- Nature aux Amandes - Végétal soja & amande Alpro · 0.5 kg 5 additives
- Greek Style Plain Alpro · 400 g 5 additives
References
- 1Sodium citrate. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- 2Urwin CS, Snow RJ, Condo D, Snipe R, Wadley GD, Carr AJ. Factors Influencing Blood Alkalosis and Other Physiological Responses, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and Exercise Performance Following Sodium Citrate Supplementation: A Review. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2021;31(2):168-186. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2020-0192
- 3Martin RAXJ, Yang X, McNaughton LR. Individual and Combined Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Citrate Supplementation on High-Intensity Exercise Performance in Highly Trained Female CrossFit Athletes. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2025;20(10):1386-1392. doi:10.1123/ijspp.2024-0190
- 4Suvi S, Mooses M, Timpmann S, et al. Impact of sodium citrate ingestion during recovery after dehydrating exercise on rehydration and subsequent 40-km cycling time-trial performance in the heat. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018;43(6):571-579. doi:10.1139/apnm-2017-0584
- 5Oöpik V, Timpmann S, Hackney AC, Kadak K, Medijainen L, Karelson K. Ingestion of sodium citrate suppresses aldosterone level in blood at rest and during exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2010;35(3):278-85. doi:10.1139/H10-018
- 6Aedma M, Timpmann S, Ööpik V. Dietary sodium citrate supplementation does not improve upper-body anaerobic performance in trained wrestlers in simulated competition-day conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015;115(2):387-96. doi:10.1007/s00421-014-3025-4
- 7Suvi S, Mooses M, Timpmann S, Medijainen L, Unt E, Ööpik V. Influence of Sodium Citrate Supplementation after Dehydrating Exercise on Responses of Stress Hormones to Subsequent Endurance Cycling Time-Trial in the Heat. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(4). doi:10.3390/medicina55040103