This study tested the hypothesis that tannic acid can cause an imbalance of sodium of mammalian herbivores. The sodium balance and the size of the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland was measured in root voles fed a diet containing either low or high proteins supplemented with 0, 3, or 6% of tannic acid. Relative areas of adrenal regions (zona glomerulosa, combined zona fasciculata and zona reticularis (ZFZR)) of voles fed diets containing 6% of tannic acid were increased by 9% and 7.8% for low and high protein groups, respectively, compared with those in animals fed the control diets. ZFZR/cortex of voles fed a low or high protein diet containing 3% of tannic acid were increased by 14.31% and 6.5%, respectively, as compared with those of control groups. The results indicate that addition of tannic acid to a diet can significantly induce sodium excretion mainly through urine in root voles, which may affect sodium homeostasis. These results also suggest that detoxification rather than inhibition of digestibility may primarily contribute to the sodium imbalance of mammalian herbivores that are ingesting plant secondary compounds.