MSG Sensitivity

MSG Sensitivity

Alternative Medicine

Alternative Medicine

The following information is specific for alternative and complementary medicine. For additional evidence-based information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and wellness issues, continue searching the Healthwise Knowledgebase.

Need to Know

MSG Sensitivity
Enjoy the taste of Chinese food and other ethnic dishes without the headaches and nausea that MSG can sometimes cause. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
  • Mix in a B6

    Take 50 mg of vitamin B6 a day to help process MSG into harmless byproducts

  • Forego certain foods

    Check food labels for MSG and ask restaurant staff if the food you eat contains MSG

  • Skip the seasoning

    Avoid Accent or Aji-No-Moto products and any foods containing these seasonings

About

About This Condition

MSG sensitivity is a set of symptoms that may occur in some people after they consume monosodium glutamate (MSG). The syndrome was first described in 1968 as a triad of symptoms: “numbness at the back of the neck radiating to both arms and the back, general weakness and palpitations.”

MSG is used worldwide as a flavor enhancer. Although many restaurants now avoid the use of MSG, many still use significant amounts. The average person living in an industrialized country consumes about 0.3 to 1.0 gram of MSG per day. MSG is classified by the US Food and Drug Administration as “generally recognized as safe.” Indeed, many researchers have questioned the very existence of a true MSG-sensitivity reaction. Most clinical trials, including some double-blind trials, have failed to find any symptoms arising from consumption of MSG, even large amounts, when taken with food. However, clinical trials have found that MSG taken without food may cause symptoms, though rarely the classic “triad” described above. A large trial and a review of studies on MSG both suggested that large amounts of MSG given without food may elicit more symptoms than a placebo in people who believe they react adversely to MSG. However, persistent and serious effects from MSG consumption have not been consistently demonstrated.

People sensitive to MSG may also react to aspartame (NutraSweet).

Symptoms

The symptoms of MSG sensitivity have commonly been described as headache, flushing, tingling, weakness, and stomachache. After eating meals prepared with MSG, people with MSG sensitivity may have migraine headache, visual disturbance, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, tightness of the chest, skin rash, or sensitivity to light, noise, or smells.

Eating Right

The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.

Recommendation Why Get started
Forego MSG-seasoned foods Check food labels for MSG and ask restaurant staff to prepare your food without it.


Forego MSG-seasoned foods

Simply avoiding MSG will prevent MSG-sensitive reactions. MSG is found in some Chinese and Japanese food and is also contained in some flavor enhancers, such as Accent® and the Japanese seasoning AJI-NO-MOTO™. MSG may be difficult to avoid completely, as it also occurs in hydrolyzed vegetable protein, textured vegetable protein, gelatin, yeast extracts, calcium and sodium caseinate, vegetable broth, whey, smoke flavoring, malt extracts, and several other food ingredients—including “flavoring” and “natural flavoring”—without otherwise appearing on the label.

Supplements

What Are "Star" Ratings?

a7_3star   Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.

a7_2star   Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.

a7_1star   For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.

Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.

For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.



Supplement Amount Why
Vitamin B6
 Refer to label instructions 2 stars   In one study, eight out of nine people stopped reacting to MSG when given vitamin B6. Many doctors suggest that people having MSG-sensitivity symptoms try supplementing with vitamin B6 for three months as a trial.


2 stars  Vitamin B6

Years ago, researchers discovered that animals who were deficient in vitamin B6 could not properly process MSG.14 Typical reactions to MSG have also been linked to vitamin B6 deficiency in people.15 In one study, eight out of nine such people stopped reacting to MSG when given 50 mg of vitamin B6 per day for at least 12 weeks.

The actual percentage of people with MSG sensitivity who are deficient in vitamin B6 and who respond to B6 supplementation is unknown. Nonetheless, many doctors suggest that people having MSG-sensitivity symptoms try supplementing with vitamin B6 for three months as a trial.

References

1. Kwok RHM. Chinese-restaurant syndrome. N Engl J Med 1968;278:796\r\n[letter].

2. Prawirohardjono W, Dwiprahasto I, Astuti I, et al. The administration to Indonesians of monosodium L-glutamate in Indonesian\r\nfoods: an assessment of adverse reactions in a randomized double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study.\r\nJ Nutr 2000;130(4S Suppl):1074–6S.

3. Bazzano G, D’Elia JA, Olson RE. Monosodium\r\nglutamate: feeding of large amounts in man and gerbils. Science 1970;169:1208–9.

4. Morselli PL, Garattini S. Monosodium glutamate and the Chinese restaurant syndrome. Nature\r\n1970;227:611–2.

5. Zanda G, Franciosi P, Tognoni G, et al. A double blind study on the effects of\r\nmonosodium glutamate in man. Biomedicine 1973;19:202–4.

6. Tung TC, Tung KS. Serum free\r\namino acid levels after oral glutamate intake in infants and human adults. Nutr Rep Int\r\n1980;22:431–43.

7. Schaumburg HH, Byck R, Gerstl R,\r\nMashman JH. Monosodium L-glutamate: its pharmacology and role in the Chinese restaurant syndrome. \r\nScience 1969;163:826–8.

8. Rosenblum I, Bradley JD, Coulston F. Single and double blind\r\nstudies with oral monosodium glutamate in man. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1971;18:367–73.

9. Kenney RA, Tidball CS. Human susceptibility to oral monosodium L-glutamate. Am J Clin Nutr\r\n1972;25:140–6.

10. Walker R, Lupien JR. The safety evaluation of monosodium glutamate. J Nutr\r\n2000;130(4S Suppl):1049–52S [review].

11. Geha R, Beiser A, Ren C, et al. Multicenter multiphase\r\ndouble-blind placebo controlled study to evaluate alleged reactions to monosodium glutamate (MSG). J\r\nAllergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:S243 [abstract].

12. Geha RS, Beiser A, Ren C, et al. Review of\r\nalleged reaction to monosodium glutamate and outcome of a multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled study.\r\nJ Nutr 2000;130(4S Suppl):1058–62S [review].

13. Stegink LD, Filer LJ Jr, Baker GL. Effect of aspartame and sucrose\r\nloading in glutamate-susceptible subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:1899–905.

14. Wen CP, Gershoff SN. Effects of dietary vitamin B6 on the utilization of monosodium glutamate by rats. J Nutr 1972;102:835–40.

15. Folkers K, Shizukuishi S, Scudder SL, et al. Biochemical evidence for a deficiency of vitamin B6 in subjects reacting to monosodium-L-glutamate by the Chinese restaurant syndrome. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1981;100:972–7.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

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