monosodium glutamate

[mon″o-so´de-um]

a salt of glutamic acid, used as a pharmaceutic necessity, and also used to enhance the flavor of foods. See also Chinese restaurant syndrome.

Chi·nese res·tau·rant syn·drome

development of chest pain, feelings of facial pressure, and sensation of burning over variable portions of the body surface after ingestion of food containing monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) by those sensitive to this food additive.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

An abrupt allergic reaction, the susceptibility to which is autosomal recessive, caused by sensitivity to monosodium glutamate (MSG), a seasoning used in Chinese restaurants and in soy sauce
Management None needed, usually self-limited; antihistamines in some patients

Chinese restaurant syndrome

Monosodium glutamate allergy, MSG allergy An abrupt allergic reaction, the susceptibility to which is AR, caused by sensitivity to monosodium glutamate–MSG, a seasoning used in Chinese restaurants and in soy sauce Clinical Abrupt onset of severe headaches, heartburn, numbness, palpitations, vertigo–especially with chronic MSG exposure, thirst, abdominal and chest pains/heartburn, sweating, and flushing. Onset 30 min after meal, lasting up to 12 h Management Nada, usually self-limited; antihistamines in some Pts. See MSG.

Chi·nese res·tau·rant syn·drome

(chī-nēz' rest'ă-rahnt sin'drōm)

Colloquial usage for development of chest pain, feelings of facial pressure, and a sensation of burning over variable portions of the body surface after ingestion of food that contains monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) by people sensitive to this food additive.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Chinese restaurant syndrome

Headache, nausea, a tight or burning sensation in the face, head and chest and sometimes dizziness and diarrhoea coming on one to two hours after a meal containing a large amount of MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. Some critics reject this explanation.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Chinese restaurant,

a dining establishment that serves Chinese food.

Chinese restaurant syndrome - chest pain, facial pressure, and burning sensation that develops after persons sensitive to monosodium glutamate ingest this food additive. Synonym(s): Kwok quease

Medical Eponyms © Farlex 2012

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References in periodicals archive

Tarasoff and Kelley claimed to remedy the previous flaws by: using MSG in capsules and a soft drink to prevent aftertaste bias; eliminating data from individuals who did report an aftertaste, also to eliminate bias; using more rigorous statistical analysis; and most of all, reducing the possibility of symptom suggestion by telling subjects they were participating in the "evaluation of a new soft drink," thereby avoiding all mention of the terms MSG, or Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. Their study challenged 71 individuals with doses of 1 g-3.15 g and found no significant difference between the number of reactions reported in the test and placebos (22).

Although some individuals experience sensations, collectively referred to as the Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, there is no clinical data that links MSG, when used as a food additive, with any long-term adverse consequences.

(1977), "Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with the 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome," South Med J, 70(7):879-881.

Monosodium glutamate and the Chinese Restaurant Syndrome: a review of food additive safety

The study, says Kenney, shows that if Chinese restaurant syndrome does indeed exist, it takes more than MSG to trigger it.

Prior to the study, half the men had reported symptoms of Chinese restaurant syndrome.

MSG: not all it's cooked up to be

Even the FDA acknowledges that MSG causes something like Chinese Restaurant Syndrome.

(2) Seven also had the symptoms of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome. They reacted within one to two hours after consuming the MSG.

MSG: safe or sinister?

Too much MSG (monosodium glutamate) can lead to headaches, tightness in the chest, and a burning sensation in the forearms and the back of the neck ("Chinese restaurant syndrome").

The ten worst additives