For example, the amount of sodium needed to raise the sodium level from 106 to 112 mEq / L in a 70-kg man can be calculated as follows: Because there is 513 mEq (mmol) sodium / L in hypertonic saline, roughly 0.5 L of hypertonic saline is needed to raise the sodium level from 106 to 112 mEq / L (mmol/L).