Living with dysautonomia or hypermobility syndromes like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) comes with unique challenges — especially when it comes to nutrition. At Klaralyte, we believe that understanding the science behind salt, fluid intake, and gut health can be helpful in supporting your well-being.

Today, we dive into the findings of a key paper:
Do, Toan, Sarah Diamond, Caitlin Green, and Malissa Warren. (2021). "Nutritional Implications of Patients with Dysautonomia and Hypermobility Syndromes." Current Nutrition Reports, 10(4), 324–333.

Here’s what the research reveals:

Why Nutrition Matters in Dysautonomia and Hypermobility

The authors explain that patients with dysautonomia and hypermobility syndromes often face increased nutritional demands.
These challenges stem from:

• Reduced gastrointestinal motility
  

• Increased fluid and sodium losses
  

• Frequent gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea (Do et al., 2021, p. 325).
  
  

This means even basic nutrient absorption and hydration can become more difficult, which has direct effects on symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and orthostatic intolerance.

In short: Managing nutrition isn’t just a "nice to have" — it’s a critical part of symptom management.

The Critical Role of Salt and Fluid Intake

One of the most important interventions identified by the authors is increasing both salt and fluid intake.

As they highlight:

"Patients with dysautonomia are often instructed to consume liberal amounts of sodium (6-10 g/day) and fluid (2-3 L/day) to help improve circulating blood volume and prevent orthostatic symptoms." (Do et al., 2021, p. 325)

Why?
Because in dysautonomia — especially conditions like POTS — the body struggles to maintain blood pressure and circulation.  Higher salt intake helps retain fluids, expanding blood volume, which reduces symptoms like lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, and fainting.

Clinical takeaway: Salt and fluids act like a foundation to help stabilize blood pressure and support better day-to-day functioning.

Addressing Gastrointestinal Issues: Fiber, Probiotics, and Prebiotics

Digestive issues are extremely common. The paper recommends focusing on gut health to improve overall outcomes:

"Patients may benefit from increased intake of soluble fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome." (Do et al., 2021, p. 327)

They explain that dysautonomia patients often have disrupted gut motility, leading to symptoms like bloating or constipation.
Supporting the gut with dietary strategies can improve nutrient absorption and overall health.

Some helpful foods mentioned include:

• Soluble fibers: Oats, bananas, apples
  

• Probiotics: Yogurt, kefir, fermented vegetables
  

• Prebiotics: Garlic, onions, asparagus
  

Other Key Nutritional Considerations

The study also emphasizes:

• Monitoring for nutrient deficiencies, especially iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D (Do et al., 2021, p. 329)
  
  

• Small, frequent meals to manage digestive symptoms and maintain energy levels
  
  

• Careful management of sugar and carbohydrate intake to avoid exacerbating symptoms like hypoglycemia (Do et al., 2021, p. 329)
  
  

Overall message: Personalized, targeted nutritional support can make a meaningful difference in symptom management.

Klaralyte’s Perspective: Why We Focus on Salt Science

At Klaralyte, we are committed to making science-based salt supplementation accessible and affordable.

By creating electrolytes with high-quality, additive-free salt capsules, we aim to make daily symptom management just a little bit easier. (And at $0.09 per capsule, we believe health support shouldn't break the bank!)

If you’re living with POTS, EDS, or other dysautonomia conditions, know this:
You are not alone — and small, science-backed changes like optimizing salt intake can make a big difference.

For more insights, stay tuned to our Salt Science blog, and explore Klaralyte’s salt capsules designed with YOU in mind.

Source: Do, Toan, Sarah Diamond, Caitlin Green, and Malissa Warren. 2021. “Nutritional Implications of Patients with Dysautonomia and Hypermobility Syndromes.” Current Nutrition Reports 10 (4): 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-021-00373-1