Abstract

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one of the commonly used of flavour enhancer in food serving and
manufacturing or processed food. Thus, a lot of researches have been made in order to identify the acute and
chronic effect of MSG with a different dosing amount to the human and experimental animals. The previous
research on Wistar albino rats has been made to determine the effect of monosodium glutamate on plasma
insulin, glucose levels and toxicity of that animal. There are several contradiction from several case studies, one
of the case study reported that there is no solid proof to show that MSG consumption will lead to adverse effect.
However, several opinions from other researcher stated that there is clinical symptom due to MSG consumption
but it depends on the amount being consume. This article review is based on a study done by Elshaikh and
Abuelgassim (2011). The result showed that only a slight change of insulin and glucose levels from the 120 and
480 mg/kg Bwt of MSG of dosing but a significant increase in both levels for 240 mg/kg Bwt of MSG of
dosing. Besides, organ involved has their own affect for instance, the effect of overdose of MSG to the brain
may causes congestion, oedema around neurons and demyelination. In conclusion, the researcher found that
MSG can caused hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. Therefore, the brain and pancreas toxicity also causes
hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.