Update on MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)

Update on MSG (YouTube link)

A frequent cause of post-dinner headaches, mono-sodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive, enhancing flavor. MSG is often added to in prepared Asian food and soy sauce, but it’s also added to some prepared soups, soup mixes, fast foods, deli meat, and salad dressings. In some people, MSG activates two major pathways of chronic inflammation,^[11] and it also has a negative effect on liver health.

MSG has been associated with palpitations of the heart,^[8] muscle weakness, and numbness. To further prove the ill effects MSG can cause, a Japanese study found constant consumption of products that contain MSG can lead to obesity, inflammation in the liver based on mice studies.^[3]

MSG Symptom Complex

During years of using MSG as a food additive, the FDA has received many reports of concerning reactions that people have attributed to foods that had MSG in them. These reactions — called MSG symptom complex.^[5]

But researchers have found no clear proof of a link between MSG and these symptoms. Researchers admit, though, that a small number of people may have short-term reactions to MSG. Symptoms are often mild and don't need to be treated. The only way to prevent a reaction is to not eat foods that have MSG in them.

Watch Out for the Intake Amount 

Monosodium glutamate (i.e., the purest form of umami, the fifth taste) itself is not bad for your body, what you have to be careful about is the amount you eat. When you put too much salt in your food, it is too salty, if you put sugar too much, it is too sweet, but with umami, you can't taste if there is too much of it. 

That is why some people put too much of it and says it causes health problem, but it is same as eating too much salt or sugar. The right amount of MSG you should add is one pinch.

MSG Must Be Listed on the Label 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that's generally recognized as safe. But its use is still debated. For this reason, when MSG is added to food, the FDA requires it to be listed on the label.

 

Definite Sources of MSG

• Hydrolyzed Protein, Sodium Caseinate or Calcium Caseinate 
• Autolyzed Yeast or Yeast Extract 
• Gelatin 
• Hydrolyzed Oat Flour 
• Glutamic acid 
• Monosodium glutamate

Possible sources of MSG

• Textured Protein 
• Carrageenan or Vegetable Gum 
• Seasonings or Spices 
• Flavorings or Natural Flavorings 
• Chicken, Beef, Pork, Smoke Flavorings 
• Bouillon, Broth or Stock 
• Barley Malt, Malt Extract, Malt Flavoring 
• Whey Protein, Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate 
• Soy Protein, Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate 
• Soy Sauce or Extract

Other sources of MSG

• MSG is found in most of the food prepared by major fast-food chains.
• Binders and fillers for medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, and some fluids administered intravenously in hospitals, may contain MSG.
• According to the manufacturer, Varivax-Merck chicken pox vaccine (Varicella Virus Live), contains L-monosodium glutamate and hydrolyzed gelatin both of which contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG).
• MSG is used as a plant "growth enhancer" (AuxiGro) that is sprayed on growing crops. AuxiGro Plant Metabolic Primer contains 29.2% by weight, pharmaceutical grade, L-glutamic acid.
• The most common source of MSG is molasses or sugar beet or cane.
• MSG and Aspartame(nutrasweet) are found in everything from soups, sauces, and juice to frozen entrees, candy, cigarettes, and anything with seasonings (e.g., potato chips, meat, ice cream).

Conclusions

In the old days, safe eating depends heavily on knowing how to read biological signals such as: 

This looks ripe; this smells spoiled; that's one slick-looking cow.

This is much easier to do when you have long experience of a food and much harder when a food has been expressively designed to deceive your senses with, say, artificial flavors, synthetic sweeteners, or flavor enhancer (e.g., MSG).

Foods that lie to our senses are one of the most challenging features of the Western diet.  

Using MSG as an example, it is regularly added to instant noodles.  Lots of people are addicted to eating instant noodles and in large amount because they taste good with added MSG.  However, it is low in nutrients and frequent consumption of it is linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

References

1. 10 Foods Proven To Aggravate Joint Pain
2. NEUROLOGICAL INFLAMMATION: AN APPROACH TO REVERSING THE PROCESS
3. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): a villain and promoter of liver inflammation and dysplasia 
4. AJINOMOTO MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. IS IT REALLY BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?
5. Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful? - Mayo Clinic
6. Monosodium glutamate - Wikipedia
7. Update on MSG (NutritionFacts.org)
8. Heart Palpitations After Eating - Cleveland Clinic
9. Tchkonia T, Morbeck DE, Von Zglinicki T, Van Deursen J, Lustgarten J, Scrable H, … Kirkland JL (2010). Fat tissue, aging, and cellular senescence. Aging Cell, 9(5), 667–684.
10. Fernstrom, John D. (2018). "Monosodium Glutamate in the Diet Does Not Raise Brain Glutamate Concentrations or Disrupt Brain Functions". Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 73 (Suppl. 5): 43–52.
11. Dietary food additive monosodium glutamate with or without high-lipid diet induces spleen anomaly: A mechanistic approach on rat model