Abstract
Monosodium glutamate is widely used as a flavor enhancer. A number of adverse effects in humans have been attributed to ingestion of this substance. The most well known of these is the so-called Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Various studies have been done to attempt to substantiate that glutamate is indeed the etiologic factor responsible for the reported symptoms. No measurable signs appear to be associated with the syndrome. Symptoms can be quite frightening but appear to be transient and rely on subjective reports of reactors. Other adverse reactions, presumably associated with ingestion of glutamate, are also discussed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Albert, E.N. (1979). J. Microwave Power, 14, 281–285.
Albert, K., P. Hoch and H. Waelsch (1946). J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 104, 263–274.
Allen, D.H., and G.J. Baker (1981). N. Engl. J. Med., 305, 1154–1155.
Alston, R.M. (1976). N. Engl. J. Med., 294, 225.
Ambos, M., N.R. Leavitt, L. Marmorek and S.B. Wolschina (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 279, 105.
Andermann, F., M. Vanosse and L.S. Wolfe (1976). N. Engl. J. Med., 295, 174.
Asnes, R.S. (1980). Clin. Pediatr. (Philadelphia), 19, 705–706.
Bakay, L. (1972). In: Handbook of Neurochemistry, Laitha, A., ea. Plenum Press, New York, 417–427.
Bazzano, G., J.A. D’Elia and R.E. Olson (1970). Science, 18, 1208–1209.
Bellhorn, R.W., D.A. Lipman, J. Confino and M.S. Burns (1981). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., 21, 237–247.
Berry, H.K., R.E. Butcher, L.A. Elliot and R.L. Brunner (1974). Dev. Psychobiol., 7, 165–173.
Bodnar, R.J., G.M. Abrams, E.A. Zimmerman, D.T. Krieger, G. Nicholson and J.S. Kizer (1980). Neuroendocrinology, 30, 280–284.
Carter, L.T., and L. Levesque (1979). Neurobehav. Toxicol., 1, 247–251.
Colman, A.D. (1978a). N. Engl. J. Med., 299, 902.
Colman, A.D. (1978b). N. Engl. J. Med., 300, 503.
Conacher, H.B., J.R. Iyengar, W.F. Miles and H.G. Botting (1979). J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem., 62, 604–609. Consumer Reports (1978). 615–619.
Cooper, P. (1977). Fd. Cosmet. Toxicol., 15, 347–356.
Creasey, W.A., and S.E. Malawista (1971). Biochem. Pharmacol. 20, 2917–2920.
Cunha-Vaz, J., F. De Abreu, A.J. Campos and G.M. Figo (1975). Br. J. Ophthalmol. 59, 649–656.
Dawson, R., Jr., J.J. Valdes and Z. Annau (1982). Neuroendocrinology, 34, 292–296. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (1974). FDA publication #74–2043. Washington, D.C.
Dhindsa, K.S., R.G. Omran and R. Bhup (1981). Acta Anat., 109, 97–102.
Folkers, K., S. Shizukuishi, S.L. Scudder, R. Willis, K. Takemura and J.B. Longenecker (1981). Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 100, 972–977.
Gann, D. (1977). South. Med. J., 70, 879–881.
Ghadimi, H. (1973). Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 26, 686–687.
Ghadimi, H., C.L. Bhalla and D.M. Kirchenbaum (1970). Acta Paediatr. Scand. 59, 233–240.
Ghadimi, H., and S. Kumar (1972). Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 25, 643–646.
Ghadimi, H., S. Kumar and F. Abaci (1971). Biochem. Med., 5, 447–456.
Ghezzi, P., M. Salmone, M. Recchia, G. Dagnino and S. Garattini (1980). Toxicol. Lett., 5, 417–421.
Goodman, L.S., E.A. Swinyard and J.E.P. Toman (1946). Arch. Neurol. Psychiat., 56, 20.
Gore, M.E., and P.R. Salmon (1980). Lancet, 1, 251–252.
Hammerschmidt, D.E. (1980). N. Engl. J. Med., 302, 1191–1193.
Himms-Hagen, J. (1970). Nature, 228, 97.
Himwich, H.E., K. Wolff, A.L. Hunsicker and W.A. Himwich (1955). J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 121, 40.
Johnston, G.A.R. (1973). Biochem. Pharm. 22:137–140.
Justesen, D.R. (1980). Proc. IEEE, 68, 60–67.
Kandall, S.R. (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 278, 1123.
Kenney, R.A. (1978). N. Engl. J. Med., 300, 503.
Kenney, R.A. (1979). In: Glutamic Acid: Advances in Biochemistry and Physiology. Filer, L.J. Jr. et al, eds. Raven Press, New York, 363–373.
Kenney, R.A., and C.S. Tidball (1972). Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 25, 140–146.
Kerr, G.R., M. Wu-Lee, M. El-lozy, R. McGandy and F.J. Stare (1979). J. Am. Diet Assoc., 75, 29–33.
Kirkendol, P.L., J.E. Pearson and N.W. Robie (1980). Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol., 7, 617–625.
Komeda, K., M. Yokote and Y. Oki (1980). Experientia, 36, 232–234.
Krieger, D.T., A.S. Liotta, G. Nicholsen and J.S. Kizer (1979). Nature, 278, 562–563.
Kwok, R.H.M. (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 278, 796.
Levey, S., J.E. Harroun and S.J. Smyth (1949). J. Lab. Clin. Med., 34, 1238–1248.
Lott, I.T., T. Coulombe, R.V. DiPaolo, E.P. Richardson Jr. and H.L. Levy (1978). Neurology, 28, 47–54.
McCall, A., B.S. Glaeser, W. Millington and R.J. Wurtman (1980). Neurobehav. Toxicol., 1, 279–283.
Marrs, T.C., M. Salmone, S. Garattini, D. Burston and D.M. Mathews (1978). Toxicology, 11, 101–107.
Marshall, A.E. (1948). Monosodium Glutamate, A Symposium. Quartermaster Food and Container Institute for the Armed Forces, and Associates. Chicago, Ill. 4.
Mayer-Gross, W., and J.W. Walker (1949). Biochem. J., 44, 92–97.
Merritt, J.H., A.F. Chamness and S.J. Allen (1978). Radiat. Environ. Biophys., 15, 367–377.
Moneysworth (Feb. 1975), 23. Morselli, P.L., and S. Gara Hini (1970). Nature, 227, 611.
Nemeroff C.B., and F.D. Crisley (1975). Environ. Physiol. Biochem., 5, 389–395.
Neumann, H.H. (1976). Am. Heart J., 92, 266.
New York International Glutamate Technical Committee (1974). The Remarkable Story of Monosodium Glutamate, Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C.
Nitch, C. (1976). Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 23:Suppl, 101.
Olney, J.W. (1975). In: Sweetners: Issues and Uncertainties. National Academy of Science Forum, G.P.O., Washington, D.C.
Olney, J.W. (1976). In: Transport Phenomena in the Nervous System: Physiological and Pathological Aspects (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 69) Levi G. et al, eds. Plenum Press, New York, 497–506.
Olney, J.W. (1980). Neurotoxicology, 2, 163–192.
Pardridge, W.M., J.D. Connor and I.L. Crawford (1975). CRC Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 3, 159–199. Peter, R.E., O. Kah, C.R. Paulencu, H. Cook and A.L. Kyle (1980). Cell Tissue Res., 212, 429–442. Plaitakis, A., S. Berl, and M.D. Yahr (1982). Science, 216, 193–196.
Rath, J. (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 278, 1123.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1976a). Fed. Proc. 35, 2205–2212.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1976b). Pediatrics, 58, 771.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1977a). Yearbook of Pediatrics, 309–310.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1977b). Fed. Proc., 36, 1617–1623.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1977c). Testimony, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Bethesda, Md.
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1982, in press). Chapter in: Current Topics in Eye Research. Academic Press, New York.
Reif-Lehrer, L., and M.G. Stemmermann (1975). N. Engl. J. Med., 293, 1204–1205.
Reinken, L. (1975). Acta Vitaminol. Enzymol. (Milano), 29, 252–
Reynolds, W.A., V. Butler and N. Lemkey-Johnston (1976). J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 2, 471–480.
Rippere, V. (1981). Med. Hypotheses, 7, 819–823.
Roberts, P.J., J. Storm-Mathisen and G.A.R. Johnston, eds. (1981). Glutamate: Transmitter in the Central Nervous System. John Wiley & Sons, New York.
Rodriguez-Sierra, J.F., R. Sridaran and C.A. Blake (1980). Neuroendocrinology, 31, 228–235.
Rosenblum, I., J.D. Bradley and F. Coulston (1971). Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 18, 367–373.
Rubini, M.E. (1971). Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 24, 169–171.
Saphier, D.J., and R.G. Dyer (1981). J. Endocrinol., 89, 379–387.
Schaumburg, H.H. (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 278, 1122.
Schaumburg, H.H., and R. Byck (1968). N. Engl. J. Med., 279, 105.
Schaumburg, H.H., R. Byck, R. Gerstl and J.H. Mashman (1969). Science, 163, 826.
Schubert, F., J.M. George and M. Bhaskar Rao (1980). Life Sciences, 26, 651–656.
Scriver, C.R., and D.T. Whelan (1969). Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 166, 83–86.
Sjöström, L.B. (1955). Monosodium Glutamate: A Second Symposium. Research and Development Associates, Food and Container Inst., Inc. 31.
Smith, R.J. (1981). Science, 213, 986–987.
Stegink, L.D., L.J. Filer, Jr., G.L. Baker, S.M. Mueller and MY-C Wu-Ridout (1979). In: Glutamic Acid: Advances in Biochemistry and Physiology, Filer L.J., Jr. et al, eds. Raven Press, New York, 333–351.
Stegink, L.D., L.J. Filer, Jr. and G.L. Baker (1981). Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 34, 1899–1905.
Sworczak, K., M. Siekjerska and R. Komarnicka (1980). Pol. Tyg. Lek., 35, 991–992.
Terry, L.C., J. Epelbaum and J.B. Martin (1981). Brain Res., 217, 129–142.
Tracor-Jitco, Inc. (1974). Scientific literature reviews on generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food ingredients — glutamates. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C.
Trauberman, L. (1960). Food Engineering.
Tursky, T., M. Lassanova, M. Sramka and P. Nadvorink (1976). Acta Neurochir. (Wien) 23:Suppl., 111.
Unna, D., and E.E. Howe (1945). Fed. Proc., 4, 138.
Utsumi, M., Y. Hirose, K. Ishihara, H. Makimura and S. Baba (1980) Biomed. Res. 1, Suppl., 154–158.
Weil-Malherbe, H. (1949). J. Ment. Sc., 95, 930–944.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1983 The Wenner-Gren Center
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reif-Lehrer, L. (1983). Adverse Reactions In Humans Thought To Be Related To Ingestion Of Elevated Levels Of Free Monosodium Glutamate (Msg) (Chinese Restaurant Syndrome And Other Reactions). In: Fuxe, K., Roberts, P., Schwarcz, R. (eds) Excitotoxins. Wenner-Gren Center International Symposium Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06963-7_24
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06963-7_24
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-06965-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-06963-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)