Human adverse reactions
Studies completed in the 1970's
demonstrated that at least 25% of the population react with visible
and/or painful reactions to free glutamic acid in processed food,
a substance popularly referred to as MSG.(1-4) Today, we recognize
that MSG-reactions range from mild and transitory reactions such
as simple skin rash to debilitating and/or life threatening reactions
such as asthma, migraine headache, seizures, learning disorders,
and depression.(5)
People who are sensitive to MSG react to glutamic acid only in its free form, and only if it has been created through fermentation or some other manufacturing process. Manufactured free glutamic acid differs from glutamic acid bound in protein in that the latter is L-glutamic acid only(6-8), while the former contains L-glutamic acid, D-glutamic acid (6-7), and pyroglutamic acid, and may also contain mono and dichloropropanols, and/or heterocyclic amines.(9-10)
Free glutamic acid ingested as MSG can cross the placenta during pregnancy,(11-12) can cross the blood brain barrier in an unregulated manner during development, and can pass through the five circumventricular organs, which are "leaky" at best at any stage of life.(13-14) In addition, the blood brain barrier can be compromised by such things as drugs, seizures, stroke, trauma to the head, hypoglycemia, hypertension, extreme physical stress, high fever, and the normal process of aging.(15) It is generally accepted that the young are particularly at risk from ingestion of MSG.
REFERENCES
1. Kenney, RA and Tidball, CS Human susceptibility to oral monosodium L-glutamate. Am J Clin Nutr. 25:140-146, 1972.
2. Reif-Lehrer, L. Prevalence of Chinese restaurant syndrome. Federation Proceedings 35:1617-1623,1977.
3. Kerr, GR, Wu-Lee, M, El-Lozy, M, McGandy, R, and Stare, F. Food-symptomatology questionnaires: risks of demand-bias questions and population-biased surveys. In: Glutamic Acid: Advances in Biochemistry and Physiology Filer, LJ, et al., eds. New York: Raven Press, 1979.
4. Schaumburg, HH, Byck, R, Gerstl, R, and Mashman, JH. Monosodium L-glutamate: its pharmacology and role in the Chinese restaurant syndrome. Science 163:826-828,1969.
5. Analysis of Adverse Reactions to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Prepared for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. Raiten, DJ, Talbot, JM, and Fisher, KD, eds. Bethesda, Maryland: Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, July, 1995.
6. Rundlett, KL, and Armstrong, DW. Evaluation of Free D-Glutamate in Processed Foods. Chirality 6:277-282, 1994.
7. Man, EH, and Bada, JL. Dietary D-Amino Acids. Ann. Rev. Nutr. 7:209-25,1987.
8. Analysis of Adverse Reactions to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Prepared for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. Raiten, DJ, Talbot, JM, and Fisher, KD, eds. Bethesda, Maryland: Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, July, 1995. Page 9.
9. Pommer, K. (Novo Nordisk BioChem Inc., Franklinton, NC) Cereal Foods World. October, 1995 Vol 40. No 10. Page 745.
10.Analysis of Adverse Reactions to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Prepared for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. Raiten, DJ, Talbot, JM, and Fisher, KD, eds. Bethesda, Maryland: Life Sciences Research Office of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, July, 1995. Page 32.
11. Frieder, B, and Grimm, VE. Prenatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment given through the mother's diet causes behavioral deficits in rat offspring. Intern J Neurosci. 23:117-126,1984.
12. Gao, J, Wu, J, Zhao, XN, Zhang, WN, Zhang, YY, Zhang, ZX. [Transplacental neurotoxic effects of monosodium glutamate on structures and functions of specific brain areas of filial mice.] Sheng Li Hsueh Pao Acta Physiologica Sinica. 46:44-51,1994.
13. Price MT, Olney JW, Lowry OH, Buchsbaum S. Uptake of exogenous glutamate and aspartate by circumventricular organs but not other regions of brain. J. Neurochem. 36:1774-1780,1981.
14. Broadwell RD, Sofroniew MV. Serum proteins bypass the blood-brain fluid barriers for extracellular entry to the central nervous system. Exp Neurol. 120:245-263,1993.
15. Blaylock, RL. Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills. Santa Fe, NM: Health Press; 1994.
________________________________ Truth in Labeling Campaign, P.O. Box 2532, Darien, IL 60561 adandjack@aol.com 858/481-9333 http://www.truthinlabeling.org
This page was last updated on September 15, 2000
RECOGNIZING OR DIAGNOSING MSG SENSITIVITY
Pinpointing MSG as a reaction trigger -- A list of the adverse reactions to MSG
THE CHEMICAL THAT TRIGGERS MSG SENSITIVITY REACTIONS
Truly natural glutamic acid does not contain contaminants -- Genetically engineered bacteria are used to make some MSG
Hidden in processed food -- Hidden in infant formula -- Sprayed on growing fruits, grains, and vegetables
(There have been reports of MSG reactions to produce)
Sprayed on California wine grapes -- Proposed for spray on organic crops and for use in organic food
Hidden in food with labels that say "No Added MSG," "No MSG Added," and "No MSG"
Falsely advertised as containing no MSG
An overview -- Selected references
Brain lesions -- Retinal degeneration -- Neuroendocrine disorders <> Human adverse reactions
The "Glutamate Cascade": Addiction, stroke, epilepsy, degenerative disorders, brain trauma, neuropathic pain, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression
THE PEOPLE WHO PROFIT FROM THE SALE OF MSG
Industry's defenders of the safety of MSG -- Science for sale? -- Deceptive industry practices
THE POLITICS THAT PROMOTE THE UNREGULATED USE OF MSG
The FDA's next move -- FDA Refuses to Name Ingredients that Contain MSG -- How the game is play
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ADVOCACY -- MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
The Truth in Labeling Campaign -- Getting involved -- Thinking of Suing? -- Just the Facts