MSG (AJI-NO-MOTO): A threat to health?

-Soumyadeep Ghosh and Binayak Das, Team bioXone

Well, who does not like their food to taste good? If you are too concerned about your physique and BMI, then never mind! Food which looks good and tastes good, is all we need to provide us a day with a happy ending.

MSG has been in the food industries since the 1970s and holding its grip over the same for quite a long time. It enhances the meaty, savory taste (umami taste) of the food delicacies making it more delightful to eat. It is vastly used in the preparation of Chinese delicacies and consists of glutamate which is responsible for triggering the umami taste buds.

Many individuals experiencing certain symptoms after consuming food with MSG have stated it to be harmful to human health. The most common ones being nausea, headache, and numbness. Cumulatively these symptoms were termed as C”. To date, we come across many individuals who advise us not to consume food containing MSG. But is it the case? Is it slow poisoning our body? The simple answer is YES!

Many experiments were conducted on laboratory mice and rhesus monkeys. They were exposed to high concentrations of MSG sub-cutaneously and through oral route via capsules. Surprisingly the results went in favor of MSG affecting their health. Patches of dead tissue were identified in their brains. The most recent studies suggest that MSG causes oxidative stress, leading to inflammation of various organ tissues.

The results of all the studies conducted across the globe suggested that the high content of glutamate in MSG is harmful to human health. Neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, obesity, diabetes, and reproductive toxicity are the major problems that might be faced. So, there are significant pieces of evidence to support the fact that MSG is indeed harmful to human health. A threshold dose of 0.5-1g/day of MSG is considered to be toxic. Individuals with glutamate-sensitivity are at a greater risk of experience the “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” and other organ tissue damages.

So for all the Chinese food enthusiasts, MSG consumption should be checked. It might please your taste buds but won’t please your organs tissues!

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Source:

1. Kamal Niaz, Elizabeta Zaplatic, and Jonathan Spoor; Extensive use of monosodium glutamate: A threat to public health? 2018; 17: 273–278; DOI: 10.17179/excli2018-1092
2. Mohammad Mahdi Hajihasani,¹ Vahid Soheili,¹ Mohammad Reza Zirak, et al.; Natural products as safeguards against monosodium glutamate-induced toxicity,2020; 23(4): 416–430; DOI: 10.22038/IJBMS.2020.43060.10123