What the FDA had to say about MSG and asthma:
"A 1995 report from the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
(FASEB), an independent body of scientists identifies two groups of people who may develop
a condition the report refers to as "MSG symptom complex." One group is those
who may be intolerant to MSG when eaten in a large quantity. The second is a group of
people with severe, poorly controlled asthma. These people, in addition to being prone to
MSG symptom complex, may suffer temporary worsening of asthmatic symptoms after consuming
MSG. The MSG dosage that produced reactions in these people ranged from 0.5 grams to 2.5
grams." "The agency believes that the report provides the basis to require
glutamate labeling. FDA will propose that foods containing significant amounts of free
glutamate (not bound in protein along with other amino acids) declare glutamate on the
label. This would allow consumers to distinguish between foods with insignificant free
glutamate levels and those that might contribute to a reaction."
According to Scientific American, June 2000,
pg 30 "Asthma Worldwide":
Asthma was rare in 1900. Now it is considered epidemic. It kills 5,000
Americans yearly, and 180,000 wordwide according to to the World Health
Organization. Asthma is now the most common childhood chronic disease and is
associated with obesity. (See link on this site to MSG and
obesity.) Experts consider this dramatic increase to be a mystery. Asthma
is virtually absent in parts of rural Africa. It is not considered to be due to
genetics. It is however considered to be due to environment although there is no
evidence that outdoor air pollution is an initiating factor. It is interesting (and
unfortunate) to note that inner city poverty is a risk factor. Asthma mortality in
the US is highest in Americans of Puerto Rican and African descent.
Recent Research from Johns Hopkins on asthma
This next link is a recent research press release from Johns Hopkins linking nervous
system stimulation to the immune response and asthma in particular.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/2000/MAY/000518.HTM
MSG Link?
MSG was only isolated as food additive ingredient at the turn of this century and only
found its way into American food after World War II. MSG is also now quite prevalent
in American "junkfood" such as Doritos as well as in a beloved seasoning used
by Americans of Puerto Rican descent - Adobo. It is also found in extremely large
amounts in "fast foods" found easily in poor urban centers.
It is well accepted that MSG stimulates nerve cells in the mouth and
elsewhere in the body. Based on the latest information from Johns
Hopkins, this is probably why MSG has been proven to induce asthma in certain
individuals.
Some more Food for Thought
If only asthma increased since 1900, but not obesity and Type II diabetes,
there may be some question about an MSG asthma link. If only
obesity rose and not asthma and Type II diabetes, then there is still a
question. But the fact that all three diseases that are impacted by
glutamate rose to epidemic levels only after MSG was added as a separate
ingredient to the food supply raises quite a bit of suspicion on the role of
MSG in the rise of these three diseases.