Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used as food additive enhancing flavor of food. It was linked to many metabolic alterations, obesity, inflammation and oxidative damage in different organs.
We investigated the possible metabolic effects of MSG and its effect on liver and kidneys in adult and neonatal male rats.
Materials and methods: The study was carried for 12 weeks on forty male rats divided into four groups: MSG Adult were given (120 mg/kg/day) Intraperitoneal (I.P), MSG Neonatal rats given MSG (120 mg/kg/day) I.P, control adult were given (120 mg/kg/day) saline I.P and control neonates given (120 mg/kg/day) I.P saline. Final body weight, weight gain, body mass index (BMI) and Lee index were measured. Fasting blood glucose, serum levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, final liver and kidney weights, liver and kidney function tests (serum AST, ALT, serum urea and creatinine ), serum TNF-α, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and Mean ABP was measured. Histopathlogical examination of liver and kidney tissues was done.
MSG induced a significant increase in final body weight, weight gain, BMI and Lee index in MSG neonatal and MSG adult rats. Significant increase in blood glucose, serum levels of insulin, leptin and TNF-α with significant decrease in serum TAC, liver and kidney functions were impaired in both MSG treated groups with histopathlogical alterations.
Conclusion: MSG induced obesity, metabolic alterations including hyperglycemia, hyperleptinemia, insulin resistance and decreased antioxidant defense. MSG had a toxic effect on liver and kidneys and should be taken cautiously in diet especially for infants and children.