Monosodium glutamate intake is inversely related to the risk of hyperglycemia.
OBJECTIVE
In animal studies, monosodium glutamate (MSG) intake at a particular age has been found to increase the risk of insulin resistance and obesity. Inconsistent associations between MSG intake and overweight have been reported in humans. No population study has assessed the association between MSG intake and diabetes risk. This study aims to prospectively examine the association between MSG intake and hyperglycemia in a Chinese population.


METHODS
We followed 1056 healthy adults aged 20 years and older from 2002 to 2007. Dietary data were collected during home visits using a 3-day food record and a food frequency questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and follow up. Hyperglycemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose >5.6 mmol/l.


RESULTS
During the follow-up we identified 125 cases of hyperglycemia. The highest quartile of MSG intake was associated with a lower risk of incident hyperglycemia, even after adjustment for a number of covariates, including dietary patterns. Comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of MSG intake, the odds ratio (OR) for hyperglycemia was 0.30 (95% CI 0.13-0.66). There was a linear inverse association between MSG intake and change in blood glucose.


CONCLUSIONS
This cohort study suggests that high MSG intake is associated with a decreased risk of hyperglycemia in Chinese adults.
Department of Nutrition and Foodborne Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 172 Jiangsu Road, Nanjing 210009, China; Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: zumin.shi@adelaide.edu.au.
Zumin
Z
Shi
Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Anne W
AW
Taylor
Department of Nutrition and Foodborne Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 172 Jiangsu Road, Nanjing 210009, China.
Baojun
B
Yuan
Department of Nutrition and Foodborne Disease Prevention, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 172 Jiangsu Road, Nanjing 210009, China.
Hui
H
Zuo
Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Gary A
GA
Wittert
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D001786:Blood Glucose; D012970:Sodium Glutamate
Chinese; Cohort study; Dietary glutamate; Hyperglycemia