Teen proves MSG rots brain [General]

2008 Aug 19
While it's probably good to avoid MSG in general, I'd take this particular article with a grain of salt (or other flavour enhancer of your choice).

What on earth is a "freshwater prawn snail??" Google turns up nothing. Of course, the Sun isn't known for high quality reporting. Further searching suggests that the word "prawn" is a typo. Here's the best article I found:

www.upi.com

"[Michelle] Ah-Seng directly dosed brain cells from snails with a concentration of monosodium glutamate equal to what a person might eat in a typical serving. She said it became apparent brain cells didn't fully develop when exposed to MSG."

Until further research is done, all this really tells us is that it's likely a bad idea to drill holes in our skulls and inject massive doses of MSG into our brains. ;-) Anyways, this is a story to watch for sure!

2008 Aug 19
OH, I know it was sketchy at best - but I decided to post it anyway :-)

2008 Aug 19
According to Wikipedia, this sort of research has been going on for at least 30 years, and still there seems to be little consensus. I'll summarize to save you guys some reading: Research from the 1970's showed MSG negatively affecting the brain cells of mice (similar to Ms. Ah-Seng's research), but there seems to be some debate about what this really means. Firstly, the fact that glutamates in the blood are metabolised quickly, and efficiently in both human adults, and infants, so many scientists don't see a problem with MSG. Secondly, the inference is made (but not stated directly) that MSG is not something that can pass the blood-brain barrier freely, so even if you have it in your bloodstream, there may not be worries it is killing your brain cells. Also, what I found most amusing, is they listed some common foods, and the natural level of 'free glutamates' (i.e. consider roughly the same as manufactured MSG)
Soy Sauce - 1000mg of MSG /100g
Roquefort Cheese 1280 mg MSG / 100g
Parmesan 1200 mg MSG / 100g
Vegemite 1431 mg MSG / 100g
Marmite 1960 mg MSG / 100g
Tomatos 140 mg MSG / 100g
Peas 200 mg MSG / 100g
Eggs 24 mg MSG / 100g

Of course, nobody but an Aussie would go around eating 100's of grams of Vegemite right? ;-)

2008 Aug 19
My only anecdote is that my wife is highly sensitive to it. Her lips swell up even with small amounts, and she gets headaches from only slightly larger amounts. She's a very good litmus tests for whether or not there are even trace amounts in something :-)

2008 Aug 19
I betcha if we called Monosodium Glutamate something other than MSG.... it would not be as scary. It's kinda like calling salt ... Sodium Chloride or NaCl.

Here is the FDA food additive list known as the GRAS list (Generally Recognised as Safe). "Rocognised" as safe ... meaning you can't sue the governent if you have any problems with the food aditives because they are not saying they are safe, per se.

FDA LIST OF FOOD ADDITIVES THAT ARE
'GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE' (GRAS)

ANTI-CAKING AGENTS
Aluminum calcium silicate
Calcium silicate
Magnesium silicate
Sodium aluminosilicate
Sodium calcium aluminosilicate
Tricalcium silicate

CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbyl palmitate
Benzoic acid
Butylated hydroxyanisole
Butylated hydroxytoluene
Calcium ascorbate
Calcium propionate
Calcium sorbate
Caprylic acid
Dilauryl thiodipropionate
Erythorbic acid
Gum guaiac
Methylparaben
Potassium bisulfite
Potassium metabisulfite
Potassium sorbate
Propionic acid
Propyl gallate
Propylparaben
Sodium ascorbate
Sodium benzoate
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium metahisulfite
Sodium propionate
Sodium sorbate
Sodium sulfite
Sorbic acid
Stannous chloride
Sulfur dioxide
Thiodipropionic acid
Tocopherols

EMULSIFYING AGENTS
Cholic acid
Desoxycholic acid
Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of (M)mono- and diglycerides
Glycocholic acid
Mono- and diglycerides
Monosodium phosphate derivatives of above
Propylene glycol
Ox bile extract
Taurocholic acid

NUTRIENTS AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Alanine
Arginine
Ascorbic acid
Aspartic acid
Biotin
Calcium carbonate
Calcium citrate
Calcium glycerophosphate
Calcium oxide
Calcium pantothenate
Calcium phosphate
Calcium pyrophosphate
Calcium sulfate
Carotene
Choline bitartrate
Choline chloride
Copper gluconate
Cuprous iodide
Cysteine
Cystine
Ferric phosphate
Ferric pyrophosphate
Ferric sodium pyrophosphate
Ferrous gluconate
Ferrous lactate
Ferrous sulfate
Glycine
Histidine
Inositol
Iron. reduced
Isoleucine
Leucine
Linoleic acid
Lysine
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium phosphate
Magnesium sulfate
Manganese chloride
Manganese citrate
Manganese gluconate
Manganese glycerophosphate
Manganese hypophosphite
Manganese sulfate
Manganous oxide
Mannitol
Methionine
Methionine hydroxy analogue
Niacin
Niacinamide D-pantothenyl alcohol
Phenylalanine
Potassium chloride
Potassium glycerophosphate
Potassium iodide
Proline
Pyridoxine hydrochloride
Riboflavin
Riboflavin-5-phosphate
Serine
Sodium pantothenate
Sodium phosphate
Sorbitol
Thiamine hydrochloride
Thiamine mononitrate
Threonine
Tocopherols
Tocopherol acetate
Tyrosine
Valine
Vitamin A
Vitamin A acetate
Vitamin A palmitate
Vitamin B12
Vitamin D2
Vitamin D3
Zinc sulfate
Zinc gluconate
Zinc chloride
Zinc oxide
Zinc stearate

SEQUESTRANTS
Calcium acetate
Calcium chloride
Calcium citrate
Calcium diacetate
Calcium gluconate
Calcium hexametaphosphate
Calcium phosphate. monobasic
Calcium phytate
Citric acid
Dipotassium phosphate
Disodium phosphate
Isopropyl citrate
Monoisopropyl citrate
Potassium citrate
Sodium acid phosphate
Sodium citrate
Sodium diacetate
Sodium gluconate
Sodium hexametaphosphate
Sodium metaphosphate
Sodium phosphate
Sodium potassium tartrate
Sodium pyrophosphate
Sodium pyrophosphate, tetra
Sodium tartrate
Sodium thiosulfate
Sodium tripolyphosphate
Stcaryl citrate
Tartaric acid

STABILIZERS
Acacia (gum arabic)
Agar-agar
Ammonium alginate
Calcium alginate
Carob bean gum
Chondrus extract
Ghatti gum
Guar gum
Potassium alginate
Sodium alginate
Sterculia (or Karava) gum
Tragacanth

MISCELLANEOUS
Acetic acid
Adipic acid
Aluminum ammonium sulfate
Aluminum potassium sulfate Aluminum sodium sulfate
Aluminum sulfate
Ammonium bicarbonate
Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium hydroxide
Ammonium phosphate
Ammonium sulfate
Bees wax
Bentonite
Butane
Caffeine
Calcium carbonate
Calcium chloride
Calcium citrate
Calcium gluconate
Calcium hydroxide
Calcium lactate
Calcium oxide
Calcium phosphate
Caramel
Carbon dioxide
Carnauba wax
Citric acid
Dextrans
Ethyl formate
Glutamic acid
Glutamic acid hydrochloride
Glycerin
Glyceryl monostearate
Helium
Hydrochloric adic
Hydrogen peroxide
Lactic acid
Lecithin
Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium hydroxide
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium stearate
Malic acid
Methylceliulose
Monoatmmonium glutamate
Monopotassium glutamate
Nitrogen
Nitrous oxide
Papain
Phosphoric acid
Potassium acid tartrate
Potasium bicarbonate
Potassium carbonate
Potassium citrate
Potassium hydroxide
Potassium sulfate
Propane
Propylene glycol
Rennet
Silica aerogel
Sodium acetate
Sodium acid pyrophosphate
Sodium aluminum phosphate
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium carbonate
Sodium citrate
Sodium carboxy-methylcellulose
Sodium caseinate
Sodium citrate
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium pectinate
Sodium phosphate
Sodium potassium tartrate
Sodium sesquicarbonate
Sodium tripolyphosphate
Succinic acid
Sulfuric acid
Tartaric acid
Triacetin
Triethyl citrate

SYNTHETIC FLAVORING SUBSTANCES
Acetaldehyde
Acetoin
Aconitic acid
Anethole
Benzaldehyde
N-butyric acid
d- or l-Carvone Cinnamaldehyde
Citral
Decanal
Diacetyl
Ethyl acetate
Ethyl butyrate
Ethyl vanillin
Eugenol
Geraniol
Geranyl acetate
Glycerol tributyrate Limonene
Linalool
Linalyl acetate
l-Malic acid
Methyl anthranilate
3-Methyl -3-phenyl glycidic acid
ethyl ester
Piperonal
Vanillin

We put the darnest things in our bodies !!!!


2008 Aug 19
I only wish the Captn could have maybe presented a little more comprehensive list.. A little more effort next time Captn ;-)

2008 Aug 19
Actually Captain, there is a very long list of other names for MSG which is part of the problem that it gets hidden in inconspicuous places.

www.truthinlabeling.org

2008 Aug 19
Damn MSG !!! Pure poison !!

Check out :

www.naturodoc.com

or for a giggle .... Check out the MSG Industries perspective:

www.msgfacts.com

"Not only does MSG make good food taste better for consumers, new studies show that MSG may play a role in the overall health and nutrition of people who need it most."
.
.
.
.

Then again, isn't alcohol a poison ?