Intolerance to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Author: V. Dimov, M.D., Fellow, Creighton University Division of Allergy & Immunology
Reviewer: S. Randhawa, M.D., Fellow, LSU (Shreveport) Department of Allergy & Immunology
Faculty adviser: Jeffrey R. Stokes, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Creighton University Division of Allergy & Immunology
A 50-year old Korean female is self-referred to the allergy clinic for evaluation of "MSG allergy." She complains of nausea and headache within minutes of eating Chinese food with MSG. Symptoms occur every time she eats this type of food (every 3-4 months) for the last 10 years.
The patient would like to be tested for "MSG allergy." Her allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis are currently not symptomatic.
Crystalline MSG. Image source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike license.
PMH
HTN, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.
Medications
HCTZ, Lisinopril, Opcon eye drops PRN.
Drug allergy
PCN, rash.
FMH
Negative.
SH
Quit smoking 20 yr ago, 5-pck/yr.
She has a dog.
Do you think this patient has an allergy to monosodium glutamate (MSG)?
There are no confirmed cases of allergy to MSG. The symptom complex is more characteristic of food intolerance rather than allergy.
Are there any tests for "MSG allergy"?
There are no skin tests or ImmunoCAP (R)/RAST for "MSG allergy."
What happened?
The patient was advised to avoid foods causing her symptoms and reassured.
Final diagnosis
Intolerance to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Summary
MSG is a popular flavor enhancer that is added to many foods but that also occurs naturally. MSG is the sodium salt of one of the most common amino acids in the human body and occurs naturally in virtually all foods.
The classic example of MSG sensitivity is the MSG symptom complex, called the “Chinese restaurant syndrome,” characterized by a burning sensation of the back of the neck, forearms, and chest; (2) facial pressure or tightness; (3) chest pain; (4) headaches; (5) nausea; (6) upper body tingling and weakness; (7) palpitations; (8) numbness in the back of the neck, arms, and back; (9) bronchospasm (in asthmatic patients only); (10) drowsiness.
References
Monosodium Glutamate. Adkinson: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice, 6th ed.
Monosodium glutamate, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Published: 07/03/2008
Updated: 05/12/2009
Labels: Food Allergy
4 Comments:
I started taking lisinopril about a year ago and seemed to developed an MSG intolerance at about the same time.
I wonder if they're related.
If I eat out at times right after eating soup I get tight in the chest and have ifficulty breathing, just today I had potator and bacon soup and right afterward I got hot started sweating and had trouble brathing. Is this an MSG intolerance?
It could be. The best person to evaluate this is you primary care doctor. No medical advice is provided on this website.
i HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHERS WITH SOUP AND AFTER EATING OUT AT CERTAIN RESTAURANTS, NOT JUST CHINESE. IN FACT, I CAN HAVE WON TON SOUP AND FRIED RICE AND DON'T GET IT. AFTER EATING A COMBO AT CHILI'S OR THE FRIES AT APPLEBEES OR CHINESE FOOD WITH THE BABY CORNS I WILL GET ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE MSG POISONING. I WILL EVEN VOMIT.
I FOUND THAT DRINKING WATER AND EATING REAL EGGS FOR 2 DAYS WILL HELP. ALSO, PLAIN ROAST BEEF WITH NO MSG SEEMS TO EAT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE CHANGED TO NO MSG COLD CUTS AND ONLY ALLOW MYSELF 1 SOUP A WEEK, IF THAT MANY.
pROGRESSO SOUPS AND CAMPBELL CHICKEN NOODLE OR OYSTER STEW ARE THE WORST FOR MSG. WATCH MSG IN CRAB CAKES FROM TRADER JOE'S.
BY THE WAY, DRINKING MILK SEEMS TO HELP THE ITCHINESS IF YOU ARE NOT NAUSEOUS.
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