title: Monosodium glutamate in standard and high-fiber diets: metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study determined the effects of adding monosodium glutamate (MSG) to a standard diet and a fiber-enriched diet on glucose metabolism, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats (65 +/- 5 g, n = 8) were fed a standard diet (control), a standard diet supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of rat body weight, a diet rich in fiber, or a diet rich in fiber supplemented with 100 g of MSG per kilogram of body weight. After 45 d of treatment, sera were analyzed for concentrations of insulin, leptin, glucose, triacylglycerol, lipid hydroperoxide, and total antioxidant substances. A homeostasis model assessment index was estimated to characterize insulin resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Voluntary food intake was higher and feed efficiency was lower in animals fed the standard diet supplemented with MSG than in those fed the control, fiber-enriched, or fiber- and MSG-enriched diet. The MSG group had metabolic dysfunction characterized by increased levels of glucose, triacylglycerol, insulin, leptin, and homeostasis model assessment index. The adverse effects of MSG were related to an imbalance between the oxidant and antioxidant systems. The MSG group had increased levels of lipid hydroperoxide and decreased levels of total antioxidant substances. Levels of triacylglycerol and lipid hydroperoxide were decreased in rats fed the fiber-enriched and fiber- and MSG-enriched diets, whereas levels of total antioxidant substances were increased in these animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSG added to a standard diet increased food intake. Overfeeding induced metabolic disorders associated with oxidative stress in the absence of obesity. The fiber-enriched diet prevented changes in glucose, insulin, leptin, and triacylglycerol levels that were seen in the MSG group. Because the deleterious effects of MSG, i.e., induced overfeeding, were not seen in the animals fed the fiber-enriched diets, it can be concluded that fiber supplementation is beneficial by discouraging overfeeding and improving oxidative stress that is induced by an MSG diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo State, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yeda Sant'
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Luciane A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Faine
authors.forename: Cristiano M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Galhardi
authors.forename: Hosana G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Geovana X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ebaid
authors.forename: Regina C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Burneiko
authors.forename: Antonio C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Cicogna
authors.forename: Ethel L B
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005503:Food Additives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005503:Food Additives; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D012970:Sodium Glutamate