MSG and Obesity

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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-t\

o.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=PubMe\

d & 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.