Avoid Chowmein, Manchurian as Ajinomoto Makes You Age Faster: Study

An important ingredientin all Chinese food preparations, Ajinomoto, causes several health issues like hypertension, cardiac problems and a faster rate of ageing, said a study conducted by scientists at the biochemistry department of Allahabad University (AU).

Ajinomoto is a kind of salt with a scientific name monosodium glutamate (MSG) and is mostly used in Chinese preparations like Chowmein and Manchurian. It leaves a long-lasting taste (umami) that characterizes these food items.

Umami is the core fifth taste alongside the sweet, sour, bitter, and salty taste buds. Scientists at the AU’s department of biochemistry, working under Professor S.I. Rizvi, have proved that MSG, even at low doses, could be detrimental to health in terms of cardiac diseases and others.

Ajinomoto

The AU research on MSG toxicity has shown that even at concentrations, which come under the prescribed limits, MSG may cause oxidative stress, inflammation and other health issues. Besides, the umami taste can cause MSG addiction in children.

Prof Rizvi said, “All these adverse effects may predispose an individual to diseases such as hypertension, heart problems and a faster rate of ageing.”

The finding assumes importance since the consumption of foods rich in MSG has increased tremendously in recent years. All fast foods, including packed chips, momos and some packed foods contain large amounts of this compound.

MSG increases the production of certain chemicals in the body which may be highly harmful. The same type of change is often seen in Covid-19 patients, he added.

The breakthrough research has been published in ‘Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry’.

“The experimental study carried out on rats given a fixed dose of MSG revealed that after three weeks of continuous intake of this salt, some alterations were also seen in the brain region,” said Prof Rizvi.

Allahabad University

The scientists tested the effect of Ajinomoto or MSG at two different concentrations, 30 mg and 100 mg per kg body weight. Although the 30 mg dose did not cause any effects, at 100 mg dose, there were a host of side effects which could be hazardous to health.

“This study is an eyeopener as growing children may especially be vulnerable to toxic effects of MSG,” said Prof Rizvi, adding that children and growing foetuses have a leaky blood-brain barrier and could be affected by toxic effects of Ajinomoto or MSG.

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