More on Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG first gained a universal reputation for eliciting a variety of symptoms, ranging from headache to dry mouth to flushing. Since the first report of the so-called Chinese restaurant syndrome 40 years ago, clinical trials have failed to identify a consistent relationship between the consumption of MSG and the group of symptoms that encompass the syndrome. Furthermore, MSG has been described as a trigger point for asthma attacks and worsening of migraine headache. But so far there are no consistent data to support this relationship. Although there have been reports that some individuals may be hypersensitive to MSG, this has not been shown in any placebo-controlled trials.

Numerous conventional toxicity studies using dietary administration of MSG in several species did not reveal any specific toxic or carcinogenic effects nor were there any adverse outcomes in reproduction and teratology studies.

There is some evidence which suggests that ingestion of large amounts (≥3g) of MSG may be responsible for causing symptoms similar to Chinese Restaurant Syndrome in a small subset of individuals. These symptoms, although unpleasant, are neither persistent nor serious and appear more likely to occur when MSG is ingested in the absence of food. As MSG would always be consumed in the presence of food, an important question that remains unanswered by the scientific literature is what effect consumption with food would have on the incidence and severity of symptoms.

So what does this mean?

Despite a prevalent belief that MSG can induce a headache, among other symptoms, there are no consistent clinical data to support any of these anecdotal claims. Review of the literature indicates that there is no consistent evidence which suggests that some people may be hypersensitive to MSG. Infact the FDA recommends that health care workers make a better effort in trying to find the real cause of the symptoms which happens to people after eating in Chinese restaurant.

Ironically one study found that eating food with MSG in a non Chinese restaurant by the same individuals had no effect. Infact, the FDA believes that Monosodium glutamate is so safe that no allocated daily requirements are even recommended. This means that one can eat all the MSG one wants and nothing will happen. For those who continue to have symptoms after eating in a Chinese restaurant- go eat elsewhere.

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