Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Pivot Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Target Concepts:
Gene/Protein
Disease
Symptom
Drug
Enzyme
Compound
Query: UMLS:C0012833 (
dizziness
)
9,689
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Monosodium glutamate
(
MSG
), a common flavor enhancer in various canned food and stereotypically associated with food in Chinese restaurants, has been claimed and tested to have side effects including headache and
dizziness
. However, the mechanism behind
MSG
-induced headache was not clear. Using dissociated mouse neuronal culture and cell injury assays, we determined whether incubation of neurons with clinically relevant concentrations of
MSG
induces cell swelling or death, and whether any measure can be taken to prevent or reduce
MSG
effects. We demonstrated that (1) Treatment with
MSG
induces a dose-dependent swelling and death of mature neurons (12-14 days in culture) with little effect on young immature neurons (<1 week in culture). The threshold concentration of
MSG
for neuronal injury is 3 microM; (2)
MSG
only injures neurons with little effect on glial cells; (3) Boiling
MSG
does not affect its toxicity but the addition of Vitamin C provides significant protection against
MSG
toxicity; (4) Pretreatment of neurons with a low dose of
MSG
reduces subsequent injury by a large dose of
MSG
. Together, our studies suggest that the side effect of
MSG
may be mediated, at least in part, by its toxic effect on brain neurons. Pre-exposure to low doses of
MSG
or the use of Vitamin C may prevent or reduce the side effects of
MSG
.
...
PMID:Deciphering the MSG controversy. 2005 76
