The atrophic and degenerative changes observed in this experiment may have been caused by the cytotoxic effect of MSG on the liver. This obviously will affect the normal detoxification processes and other functions of the liver.
MSG (Monosodium Glutamate).
Some studies suggest that the chemical may make the liver fatty and inflamed, which can lead to NAFLD and liver cancer.
MSG exacerbates TFA-induced NAFLD. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the most common hepatic disorder of industrialized countries, affects approximately 15–25% of the general population (1).
Physiological complication associated with MSG toxicity are hypertension, obesity, gastrointestinal tract troubles, and impairment of function of brain, nervous system, reproductive, and endocrine system.
Thus, the possible ammonium ion overload that may occur as a result of an increased level of glutamate following MSG intake could damage the liver, consequently releasing the ALT enzyme that may lead to its observed elevation.
Glutamate plays a central role in hepatic amino acid metabolism, both because of its role in the transdeamination of most amino acids and because the catabolism of arginine, ornithine, proline, histidine, and glutamine gives rise to glutamate.
The liver is rich in glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) that catalyzes the reversible oxidative deamination of glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and ammonia, thus bridging amino acid–to–glucose pathways.
In Australia and New Zealand, no food additive — including MSG — is approved for use in food until its safety has been established by FSANZ. MSG and other glutamates are among a group of food additives that are generally permitted in foods, due to their safety.
Myth: MSG is high in salt, or sodium
However, experts associate excess intake of sodium with high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease. Unlike regular table salt, which is 40% sodium, MSG contains only 12% sodium, which is one-third the amount in table salt.
The FDA banned the use of cyclamate, an artificial sweetener, in 1969 when an animal study showed that a cyclamate-saccharin mixture increased the incidence of bladder cancer in rats.
Fried or salty foods
Too much fried or salty food is likely to increase calorie intake and can lead to a person developing obesity, a common cause of fatty liver disease.
Too much refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup causes a fatty buildup that can lead to liver disease. Some studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if you're not overweight. It's one more reason to limit foods with added sugars, such as soda, pastries, and candy.
Common chemicals that can cause liver damage include the dry cleaning solvent carbon tetrachloride, a substance called vinyl chloride (used to make plastics), the herbicide paraquat and a group of industrial chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls.
MSG can induce changes in the renal cytoarchitecture, increase glomerular hyper-cellularity, infiltration of inflammatory cells in the renal cortex, edema of tubular cells, and eventually degeneration of renal tubules [10, 11, 23].
MSG-induced symptoms are typically not severe and subside on their own entirely within 72 hours. 1 However, if you have mild symptoms do not appear to resolve or continue worsening after 48 hours, speak to your healthcare provider, as it may be something more serious.
Monosodium Glutamate in Foods and its Biological Effects
MSG has been shown to cause lesions on the brain especially in children. These lesions cause cognitive, endocrinological and emotional abnormalities. In children, excess glutamate affects the growth cones on neurons.
In the European Union, MSG is classified as a food additive (E621) and regulations are in place to determine how and when it can be added to foods.
“It's OK in moderation! Umami seasoning is the same thing.” KFC confirmed on its website that it uses MSG. “Some of our food does contain MSG but rest assured, it's only present at levels that are safe for the general population,” the fast food giant states on its website.
A: MSG is not illegal in Australia. Its name was originally tarnished in the 1990s as it was regularly added to food in Chinese restaurants to improve the flavour. By the late 1990s, it was phased out but many people realise but the food additive still exists in some of your favourite foods today.
Symptoms indicative of a high level of glutamate include anxiety, depression, restlessness, inability to concentrate, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and increased sensitivity to pain.
Glutamate is removed from the synaptic cleft by several high-affinity glutamate transporters present in both glial cells and presynaptic terminals. Glial cells contain the enzyme glutamine synthetase, which converts glutamate into glutamine; glutamine is then transported out of the glial cells and into nerve terminals.
Too much glutamate in your brain, in the wrong place, in too high of a concentration and for too long can cause brain cell damage or death. Some neurodegenerative diseases associated with having too much glutamate exciting nerve cells include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease.