MonoSodium Glutamate (MSG) Promotes Inflammation

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): A villain and promoter of liver
inflammation and dysplasia. University of Toyama, Japan.

Chronic inflammation is a common theme in a variety of disease
pathways, including autoimmune diseases. The pathways of chronic
inflammation are well illustrated by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
(NASH), which is of a serious concern due to its increasing prevalence
in the westernized world and its direct correlation with lifestyle
factors, particularly diet. Importantly, NASH may ultimately lead to
the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. We previously reported
that injection of monosodium glutamate (MSG) in ICR mice leads to the
development of significant inflammation, central obesity, and type 2
diabetes. To directly address the long-term consequences of MSG on
inflammation, we have performed serial analysis of MSG-injected mice
and focused in particular on liver pathology. By 6 and 12 months of
age, all MSG-treated mice developed NAFLD and NASH-like histology,
respectively. In particular, the murine steatohepatitis at 12 months
was virtually undistinguishable from human NASH. Further, dysplastic
nodular lesions were detected in some cases within the fibrotic liver
parenchyma. We submit that MSG treatment of mice induces obesity and
diabetes with steatosis and steatohepatitis resembling human NAFLD and
NASH with pre-neoplastic lesions. These results take on considerable
significance in light of the widespread usage of dietary MSG and we
suggest that MSG should have its safety profile re-examined and be
potentially withdrawn from the food chain.

PMID: 18178378 [PubMed - in process]
.