Sodium, Calcium & Iron

Three-mineral sodium, calcium and iron reference formula with 300 mg, 20 mg and 6 mg of the elements per serving, developed as a powder.

Sodium, Calcium & Iron is a reference formula for brands building a mineral premix for powder products, with example amounts of 300 mg of sodium, 20 mg of calcium and 6 mg of iron per serving. The reference labels in this set are powders, and the default label is a 40 g serving that also carries 25 g of protein and 4 g of dietary fiber, so the three minerals are the module a brand adds to a powder base.

Powder is the only format because the premix is blended into a protein, fiber or drink base. The development work centers on the three mineral salts, the taste of sodium and iron in a powder, and the small weight of the premix compared with the base.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Sodium300 mg (example amount)Sodium chloride, 762.6 mg per serving (39.3% sodium); specification purity and anti-caking agent set with the supplierSodium citrate or sodium bicarbonate, each with its own sodium share and input weight
Calcium20 mg (example amount)Calcium citrate, 82.9 mg per serving (24.1% calcium); specification calcium content and hydration level set with the supplierCalcium carbonate at 100.09 g/mol, which has a higher calcium share and a chalky taste
Iron6 mg (example amount)Ferrous bisglycinate, 21.9 mg per serving (27.4% iron); specification iron content set with the supplierFerrous fumarate, which has a higher iron share and a stronger metallic note

Amounts are stated as mg of the element. Each raw material weight equals the labeled amount divided by the element share of the salt: sodium chloride NaCl at 58.44 g/mol with sodium at 22.99 g/mol PubChem, calcium citrate C12H10Ca3O14 at 498.4 g/mol with calcium at 40.08 g/mol PubChem, and ferrous glycinate C4H8FeN2O4 at 203.96 g/mol PubChem with iron at 55.84 g/mol PubChem.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around mineral nutrition in powder form. The three minerals are included together because the reference labels carry them together in a powder serving.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Iron nutritionIronA review of iron deficiency reports that it is one of the leading contributors to the global burden of disease, that oral iron is the first-line treatment in most cases, and that hepcidin upregulation limits absorption of high-dose oral iron [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Calcium nutritionCalciumA 2025 review concluded that large trials show calcium supplements do not prevent fractures in community-dwelling adults, that they commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects and increase the risk of renal calculi, and that meta-analyses suggest a 10–20% higher risk of myocardial infarction [2]. Evidence: Contested

Amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market, and the sodium amount follows the brand’s electrolyte concept.

Available Formats

The reference formula is built as a powder only, with the serving size taken from the reference label.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 serving of 40 g300 mg sodium, 20 mg calcium, 6 mg iron15 or 30 servings in a pouchProtein or fiber base, sweetener, flavor, anti-caking agentMineral premix blended into a protein or drink base

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled weight of each mineral divided by the element share of its salt, with every salt assumed at 100% purity as purchased; the 40 g serving follows the reference label.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder762.6 mg sodium chloride, 82.9 mg calcium citrate, 21.9 mg ferrous bisglycinate40000 mg per serving39132.6 mg basePremix uniformity, mineral assays, taste, color, dispersion

Capsule, tablet and liquid versions are separate projects, because the sodium amount is too large for a capsule and the premix is built around a bulk powder base.

Formulation Considerations

Premix uniformity. The premix weighs under 900 mg in a 40 g serving, so it is made as a pre-blend with part of the base and then added to the bulk. Iron at 6 mg is the active with the least margin for segregation.
Taste of the minerals. Sodium adds a salty note and iron a metallic one, and a bisglycinate chelate is the usual choice to keep the metallic note low. The flavor and sweetener system is built around both.
Sodium amount. A review of sodium intake and hypertension reports that a reduction in dietary sodium decreases blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension [3], so the sodium amount is treated as a market and concept decision, not a default for general products.
Evidence and tier. The reviews in [1] and [2] cover iron and calcium as supplements, and the minerals come together here only because the reference labels carry them together. Dose limits and label wording are set for each sales market before development starts.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each mineral, the salts, the base and the flavor.

ParameterRangeNote
Sodium per serving25 to 550 mgExamples span electrolyte-style and low-sodium concepts; changes the salty note
Calcium per serving20 to 700 mgA higher calcium amount adds a gram-level salt weight and a chalky taste
Iron per serving2 to 9 mgChanges the chelate weight and the metallic note
Salt formChloride, citrate, bisglycinateChanges the input weight, taste and solubility
BaseProtein, fiber or drink mixSets the serving size and the flavor system

The pilot run confirms premix uniformity across the bulk, the taste and color of the iron chelate in the finished flavor, and the assay of each mineral in the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderChocolate, vanilla, berryDark and sweet profiles cover the metallic and salty notes of the minerals

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (Sodium 300 mg + Calcium 20 mg + Iron 6 mg on the label of CF044300; example DSLD labels 316373, 316375). The label names the ingredients as sodium, calcium and iron within a powder that also lists dietary fiber and protein; salts are set as the forms.
SpecificationSet in formulationSodium chloride, calcium citrate and ferrous bisglycinate supplying the labeled elemental amounts; element content, heavy-metal limits and assay method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Pasricha SR, Tye-Din J, Muckenthaler MU, Swinkels DW. Iron deficiency. Lancet. 2021;397(10270):233-248. DOI32594-0) · PubMed<br>[2] Reid IR. Calcium supplementation: efficacy and safety. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2025;23(1):8. DOI · PubMed<br>[3] Grillo A, Salvi L, Coruzzi P, Salvi P, Parati G. Sodium intake and hypertension. Nutrients. 2019;11(9):1970. DOI · PubMed

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