MSG and Obesity
_http://www.msgtruth.org/obesity.htm_ (http://www.msgtruth.org/obesity.htm)
MSG-Induced Obesity
MSG is injected into laboratory rats to induce obesity. It also has been
shown to increase appetite in male rats and to induce obesity in female rats and
chickens. Scientists in Spain have recently concluded that MSG when given
to mice increase appetite by as much as 40%.
_http://www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2005/12/scientists-in-spain-link-additive
-to.htm_
(http://www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2005/12/scientists-in-spain-link-additive-to.htm)
For more related research:
_http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=npg&;cmd=Retrieve&db=Pub
Med&list_uids=3785512&dopt=Abstract_
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?holding=npg&;cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3785512&dopt=Abstract)
_http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/87_
(http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/1/87)
_http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/physiolres/2000/issue2/suppl/suppl12.htm_
(http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/physiolres/2000/issue2/suppl/suppl12.htm)
_http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/physiolres/2000/issue2/iss2cl11.htm_
(http://www.lf2.cuni.cz/physiolres/2000/issue2/iss2cl11.htm)
_http://bibd.uni-giessen.de/ghtm/2002/uni/d020024b.htm_
(http://bibd.uni-giessen.de/ghtm/2002/uni/d020024b.htm)
_http://www.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1997/endo/April/71e.html_
(http://www.uth.tmc.edu/apstracts/1997/endo/April/71e.html)
_http://www.arclab.org/medlineupdates/abstract_2307116.html_
(http://www.arclab.org/medlineupdates/abstract_2307116.html)
_http://www.biomed.cas.cz/physiolres/2001/issue4/pdf/raccek.pdf_
(http://www.biomed.cas.cz/physiolres/2001/issue4/pdf/raccek.pdf)
Although it is often brought up by glutamate industry representatives that
injected MSG is somehow different than ingested MSG it has actually been
proven in studies with human subjects that ingested MSG results in raised blood
levels of glutamic acid and that this free glutamic acid does increase insulin
levels in the human body. The other argument often made by representatives
from the glutamate industry - that the blood brain barrier protects the brain
from increased glutamate levels in the blood does not address the fact that the
part of the brain responsible for hunger - the hypothalamus, is not
protected at all by the blood-brain barrier. They also do not address the fact that
the blood-brain barrier is compromised in individuals in a hypoglycemic
state, which may occur when levels of insulin - the very hormone increased by
ingesting MSG, is high.
Leptin
The latest studies on obesity focus on a substance made by the fat cells in
the human body called leptin. Leptin is being studied as the next "obesity
drug" because in some obese test animals it has been shown to decrease body
weight. However, and this is important, leptin did not work on test animals
that were obese due to MSG-induced obesity. This suggests that perhaps the
damage to the hypothalamus caused by MSG, caused the hypothalamus to become
resistant to the effect of leptin.
If we discover that leptin does not help in this latest epidemic - childhood
obesity, we should perhaps focus our attention on what causes the
hypothalamus to ignore the presence of leptin. A good start would be to investigate
how foods children eat cause leptin resistance.
AMPK
Currently there is scientific data being explored regarding the enzyme,
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase, also known as AMPK. Leptin suppresses the action
of AMPK which causes humans to eat less and use more energy. The data related
to AMPK was discussed at a conference that took place in Australia during
the week of March 22, 2004. There is hope that knowledge of how AMPK works
will help health professionals deal with the obesity epidemic.
AMPK is released in the body during times of metabolic stress - like the
ischemia that occurs during stroke. Basically the body is trying to limit its
use of energy any way it can so the cells don't run out of energy and die from
exertion. To do this, it activates AMPK, which is now linked to obesity
because it affects our intake of food. MSG, since it raises the amount of
glutamate present in the bloodstream, will actually help to activate AMPK because it
is an excitotoxon - it makes the cells use up too much energy - so its
presence causes the cells to throw up the defense of activating this protein
kinase to prevent to loss of more energy. So - MSG = activated AMPK = increased
appetite = decreased energy expenditure = obesity. Here's a little quiz- guess
which unprotected part of the brain is involved with this enzyme? The
hypothalamus. According to the article: "Leptin inhibits AMPK in the hypothalamus,"
Kahn explains. This makes sense because the net effect of leptin is to make a
person eat less and spend more energy, so inhibiting AMPK also leads to a
suppression of food intake, Kahn says.";
Since in animal studies, MSG-treated mice became resistant to leptin, and it
is remarked on in the above article that most obese people are resistant to
the effects of leptin, perhaps leptin's effect as a AMPK suppressor just
can't compete with MSG as an AMPK activator. Add to the AMPK activating effects
of MSG, the damage to the hypothalamus of MSG in general, and you have an
actual recipe for obesity - anything with MSG in it.
We should remind you that glutamate is proven to cause the damage in stroke.
Stroke causes ischemia which causes AMPK to be released as a protective
measure. This also explains much better why regular CoQ10 use appears to help
mitigate an MSG reaction. CoQ10 helps the body withstand metabolic stress. The
very stress that glutamate causes. Stroke is now being called an
obesity-related disease, but perhaps "MSG-related disease" would be nearer the mark, and
CoQ10 is now on the formulary for heart patients at hospitals in the U.S.
Insulin
By directly stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, which drops the
blood sugar, MSG can be considered an "anti-appetite suppressant". In other
words, eating MSG makes you hungrier than you would have been, sooner than you
would have been. Over-release of insulin can lead to obesity and insulin
resistance - the start of Type II Diabetes. Obesity, and Type II diabetes are
now epidemic in children. Before the introduction of MSG into the American
diet, these diseases were rare in children. Based on these simple facts, US
doctors are now questioning if the rising use of MSG had a hand in creating
these two new "epidemics".
Who is at Risk?
Note that the two highest risk groups, African American and Hispanic
children, also are the highest risk groups for asthma too. Asthma has already been
proven to be excacerbated by MSG. Again, asthma, Type II Diabetes AND
obesity all rose at the same time MSG consumption rose in the US.
Based on this fact alone, the reason for the rise in obesity may not be
Nintendo and Nickelodeon as mentioned in the article, but high-MSG foods kids
love like Doritos, and most fast food. If MSG makes laboratory animals obese, it
may work the same in children. See the above information on APMK.
And obesity among young people in China is growing at 10% each decade.
According to the following BBC article, just in the years from 1985-2000, obesity
in China's children increased 28 fold. (italics ours). Like American foods,
most processed foods targeted to Chinese consumers have large quantities of
MSG added.
_http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5261946.stm_
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5261946.stm)
Unfortunately, the Chinese, like Americans, consume large amounts of MSG and
do not consume as many other foods that may counteract it, as the Japanese
do (taurine-containing raw fish, for example).
"Supersize Me" Documentary
The current documentary about a man who gains 25 pounds in one month by
eating McDonald's food for 30 days makes no mention of the fact that MSG has been
shown to induce obesity when injected into humans, however, it should be
noted that the following McDonald's foods contain pure monosodium glutamate as
an added ingredient.
Grilled Chicken Filet
Hot and Spicy Chicken Patty
Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad
Grilled Chicken California Cobb Salad
Seasoned Beef
Sausage Scrambled Egg Mix, Sausage, and Sausage Patty
It is interesting to note that the man in the film who consumed only Big
Macs did NOT become obese.
PLEASE NOTE: The above list does not include the additional items at
McDonald's that have MSG-containing soy sauce, natural flavors or hydrolyzed protein
which can contain up to 20% free glutamic acid - the business end of MSG.
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