Higher normal serum sodium linked to accelerated biological age in two adult datasets
In electronic medical records and NHANES data, adults with higher serum sodium within the normal range showed more accelerated biological age, especially those aged 18–50; the authors call for intervention studies. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The analysis covered 363,286 adults aged 18–80 from 20 years of electronic medical records and 24,611 adults aged 18–80 from NHANES continuous (1999–2018). [1]
In the Leumit seven-variable model, females at the highest versus lowest sodium level had biological age accelerated by 2.32 years (95% CI 2.14–2.51). [1]
The authors say intervention studies are needed to confirm the link between hydration and biological aging. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational analysis of electronic medical records and NHANES survey data (abstract)
- Population / context
- Adults aged 18–80 in a large healthcare system's electronic medical records and in NHANES continuous 1999–2018.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- August 26, 2026
Serum sodium and biological age in 363,286 records
The authors asked whether serum sodium is associated with accelerated biological aging. They analysed 363,286 adults aged 18–80 from 20 years of electronic medical records of a large healthcare system, plus 24,611 adults aged 18–80 from NHANES continuous (1999–2018). Biological age was calculated from seven key biomarkers using the Klemera and Doubal method, and recalculated with only the four variables most correlated with age as a robustness check.
Supporting source [1]
Accelerated biological age at highest sodium levels
In both models there was a significant linear association between age-adjusted serum sodium and advanced biological aging, especially in young cohorts. In the seven-variable model in the Leumit dataset, males at the highest versus lowest sodium level had biological age accelerated by 0.88 years (95% CI 0.68–1.08) and females by 2.32 years (2.14–2.51). In NHANES, males at the highest sodium level had biological age accelerated by 1.92 years (0.98–2.87) compared with the lowest group; for females the largest difference was at ages 41–50 (1 year, 0.30–1.79).
Supporting source [1]
Association only; intervention studies still needed
The authors conclude that increased serum sodium within the normal range is associated with accelerated biological aging in the general population, especially among people aged 18–50. They state that intervention studies are needed to confirm the link between hydration and biological aging. This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed, and the findings are associations, not evidence that hydration changes biological age.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Findings are associations from electronic medical records and NHANES, not causal evidence, and intervention studies are still needed.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Rabinowitz J, Green O, Kwon D, Burak N, Darawshi M, Belsky DW. · europepmc.org · August 26, 2026