Comments on: Are you a happy little glutamate?

By: How your sandwich can kill you | Asian Correspondent

How your sandwich can kill you | Asian Correspondent — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:26:21 +0000

[...] safe side. But I’m afraid it’s not quite that easy, cobbers. Did you know that, according to this articleat least, vegemite is one of the world’s most potent sources of [...]

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:49:02 +0000

A quick google search pulled this peer reviewed free journal article up:

“We investigated whether neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment, known to cause arcuate nucleus damage and adult-age obesity, alters energy balance in the first two postnatal weeks.”

http://ajpendo.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/283/3/E604

Quite an interesting read. I’ll agree with Ran RE: synthesised vs. naturally occurring compounds. With a background in Medical Science, I have learned to look at real life examples and correlations in conjunction with sparse literature regarding contentious issues such as the negative effects of MSG.

Personally, I would limit the intake of MSG, high salt/sugar/preservatives/additives type food for the young, and encourage the consumption of fresh and as organic as possible foods to optimise the developmental stages of life.

Never underestimate the power of corporations and the obfuscation of truth – one time, doctors promoted smoking as “good for health”. Similarly, a lack of scientific literature does not equate to safety; foetal alcohol syndrome was once unknown.

By: richard balatan

richard balatan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:46:27 +0000

chakz717@yahoo.com..thats my email

By: richard balatan

richard balatan — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:44:35 +0000

hey guys..can you send me a thesis about msg..plz cnd it to my E-mail address..need it badly…plz..im begging you..T.T

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:20:29 +0000

Hi Celeste…It is interesting you mention people thinking for themselves and that there is so much research on the topic. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I had a quick look for such research in peer reviewed science journals (yes…Neurological & Psycho-biological Journals) but could not find much to support either position.

Could you provide the references so that I can have a look at the research you discuss?

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:52:50 +0000

Celeste, it’s not MSG present in most foods it’s glutamates – a family of substances. It’s in meat, fish, mushrooms, vegetables and seaweeds to a varying degree.

Undoubtably it may affect people. But it’s all about consuming these things in moderation.

I must say despite research saying there is no such thing as Chinese restaurant syndrome (why don’t people get it in Italian restaurants?) I remain unconvinced as many people do suffer from it.

By: celeste

celeste — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:23:40 +0000

I can’t belive what I’m reading. MSG HAS been proven over and over and over again to induce brain changes in many different species. The reactions are always the same, when exposed at a young age intelligence is affected, hyperactivity disorders, agression, the babies are smaller with smaller organs, their hormonal glands don’t develop normally. And humans are the most sensitive to glutamate than any other species, babies are even more sensitive. This has been shown over and over again by experts in neurological science, it’s the most studied area of brain science around. You don’t get a headache so you must be fine?? Are you joking? It has nothing to do with restaurant syndrome or headaches or any other immediate reactions, it has to do the fact that experiments on loads of different species have proven that msg damages the brain over time. Do you suddenly ignore that because tomatoes have a naturally occuring glutamate in them? What species in the wild eats tomato or parmesan cheese? These are human inventions adapted over time for taste. Do Italians not get Alzheimers or Dementia? The whole world is experiencing a drop in test scores for children, we are getting dumber by the generation. Hyperactivity disorders are growing at alarming rates. But because MSG is in cheese we should ignore all the research that damns it.
Instead of realizing there is a reason why an entire section of a PR firm is employed to counter any msg critisism should tell you why its so important this doesnt get mainstream. Yet instead of asking why you joke about it. Can’t anyone think for themselves?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:21:28 +0000

I have only recently started to get really nasty headaches. The only connection I could make was either a) being at work or b) NEW Vegemite “Name me”. I was wondering – have there been any tests for this as yet? and am wondering, could this be worse than Vegemite?

By: Happy Little Vegemite

Happy Little Vegemite — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:47:29 +0000

I have been suffering from headaches for years and years, I cut out all sorts of foods to find out what it could be. Dairy- then caffeine- After nothing working I REALLY took note of what I was consuming. Now I have cut out tomatoes and my headaches subsided. I thought i was okay until today- I have consumed vegemite. Then i found this forum. I really hope this is the answere. Whats so ironic, is that I was a HAPPY LITTLE vegemite kid on the advert 31 years ago (go figure)… and I have had headaches all my life….Fingers crossed this will be the answere. It would be really wonderful to feel good and no headaches.
Cheers.
HLV

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:42:24 +0000

Phil, thanks I couldn’t find any Vegemite info and I’ve added it to the list. Maybe it’s my fault for believing Wikipedia but it says it was discovered in 1907 and names in 1908. What was your source for it being discovered in 1908? Sorry I missed your original post – I think I was travelling. Nice idea on the experiment – maybe we could run it on bloggers.

Kalyn, Jackie et al. It is interesting the controversy over MSG and the lack of scientific evidence of it doing any harm but I would imagine that depends on the quantities of the pure product consumed. I used to work for a high profile PR firm that handled issues management for MSG. One night somebody broke in and the only files touched were from the locked filing cabinet for MSG client.

Andrew and Ran, I think you are right that pure MSG will never be the same as a dish layered with many flavours. But none the less it is a flavour enhancer bringing out the flavour of dishes and this is why Marco Pierre White sprinkles Knorr chicken stock cubes on dishes instead of salt, and Gilbert Lau pours chicken stock over steamed fish. I checked out Harold McGee and it seems that glutamate is an amino acid and it is the breakdown of these proteins that create the layers of flavour.