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More on monosodium glutamate

The February 1998 issue of Food Safety and Hygiene carried an article on the possible relationship between monosodium glutamate (MSG) ingestion in sensitive individuals and the cluster of symptoms known as Chinese restaurant syndrome or MSG symptoms complex. The article referred to a paper in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 99 1997 757-762 which provided sound experimental evidence of such a relationship.

A completely separate issue which first arose in the early 1980s was about the possible role of MSG in the provocation of asthma attacks again in sensitive individuals only.

A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 104 (2) 1999 305-310 addresses this question.

The aim of the study was to determine whether MSG ingestion induces asthma attacks in asthmatic subjects. Single-blind, placebo-controlled challenges were administered to 100 subjects with asthma. Thirty of the subjects had a history of Oriental restaurant associated asthma attacks while 70 did not.

The same challenge dose of 2.5 g of MSG used in the initial study implicating MSG in asthma provocation was used.

The authors conclude that the challenge in subjects with and without a perceived sensitivity to MSG failed to induce signs or symptoms of asthma. They go on to state that in view of the poorly conducted studies that proposed MSG induced asthma and the subsequent studies that failed to confirm these findings, it is important to maintain a 'healthy scepticism' about the existence of MSG sensitivity in individuals with asthma.

The researchers acknowledge support of their work in part by a grant from the International Glutamate Technical Committee.

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Prepared by Keith Richardson and Beverley George
Food Science Australia
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