Common Allergic Reactions to Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate is a form of glutamate, a naturally occurring amino acid in the body. It is an additive content of foods especially processed foods and recipes in fast food chains and restaurants. Glutamate excites the body cells to allow faster transmission of nerve impulses. All foods that are protein sources contain glutamate.

Monosodium glutamate appears like salt as a food additive. It is crystalline and white. It is also used in the fermentation of starch and some sugars.

Prevalence of MSG allergies is recently detected.  Some studies report broad symptoms that are short term while some studies present long term MSG effects such as Alzheimer’s disease. Most scientists believe that MSG is metabolized in the body as the same form of glutamate that poses no health risk. Still, at present, physiological processing of MSG as glutamate still remains indefinite.

Foods that contain high amounts of MSG cause the allergic symptoms. These symptoms may not be abrupt and may occur after a time. Individuals with a heredofamilial history of allergy and bronchial asthma are most likely the victims of MSG sensitivity attacks.

MSG allergy is due to a disorder of the immune system which causes the defense factors to overreact against some toxins in the environment, which are called allergens. In this case, the monosodium glutamate in foods is considered the allergen.

Signs and symptoms of MSG sensitivity may be mostly subjective. People with this kind of sensitivity complain of recurrent headaches after ingestions of foods with MSG. they also complain of chest pain with slight difficulty of breathing. Drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting may also be a common symptom since ingestion directly involves the digestive tract. When the body is sensitive to the food, intestinal spasms tend to dispose the food off from the digestive tract.  Diarrhea then is also a common symptom.

Tachycardia or a significant increase in the heart rate above normal is experienced as a common sign of hypersensitivity reactions. The person may also experience fatigue and weakness. Burning sensations in the buccal area going down the throat is experienced upon swallowing of the bolus or the food digested through the mouth.  Facial pressure, numbness, or tightness is also sensed.

MSG ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

Tingling and numbness of peripheral areas especially in the upper and lower limbs may alarm the patient, since these are also symptoms of Vitamin B deficiency and in some cases, of impending brain attack. The symptoms commonly appear after a short time following a person’s meal with high MSG content. In very few cases, people report onset of migraine every time MSG high foods are ingested. Cases of seizures are rarely reported.

Mental affectation, such as alterations in level of consciousness and depression are also reported but still with no evidence that they are connected to MSG ingestion or sensitivity. Itchiness or hives sometimes appear generally in the body but the real etiology is not yet ruled out.

According to Food and Drugs Administration in the United States, these people who tend to overreact physiologically from MSG are classified as “MSG-sensitive” or MSG intolerant.

MSG syndrome complex is a term coined for persons who are suffering gravely due to MSG intolerance. Varied and numerous symptoms might be present with these persons such as that stated above. The syndrome is also pertained to as the “Chinese restaurant syndrome” since Asian fast foods and restaurants tend to utilize high amounts of MSG as food additives in their recipes.

Reports of exaggerated hypersensitivity reactions are also reported immediately after ingestion of MSG up to 48 hours after eating an MSG-rich meal. Ingesting MSG on an empty stomach may also exaggerate the symptoms in MSG intolerant persons.