About Allergies: Are You Allergic to MSG?

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies I frequently encounter patients in my clinic who wonder if they are allergic to MSG. Most of these people describe a situation in which they were eating at an Asian restaurant, after which they experienced a sensation of feeling flushed along with mild shortness of breath and chest tightness. Usually, the symptoms are mild and resolve within a short period of time and without treatment. And yet, these reactions are so distressing as to cause the person to avoid Asian restaurants for fear of MSG allergy. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor enhancer added to various foods, but can also be present in foods naturally. Reactions to MSG have been previous called the "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome," although are now referred to as the "MSG Symptom Complex". Symptoms are often mild and can include numbness and tingling on the arms and neck, palpitations and drowsiness. Other symptoms may include headaches, nausea, chest pain and worsening asthma symptoms. MSG Allergy MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor-enhancer added to various foods, and also occurs naturally in seaweed. Adverse reactions to food additives like MSG are probably relatively common. However, since many reactions to food additives are not diagnosed are never reported by people, the exact rate of reactions is not known. Various studies estimate that the rate is probably less than 1% of adults, and up to 2% of children. Allergy to Food Preservatives A diagnosis of allergy to food additives is suspected when a person experiences various reactions to prepared foods or when eating at restaurants, but not from foods prepared at home. Various seemingly unrelated foods might in fact have common ingredients, such as food colorings or preservatives. Once a food or food additive is suspected, allergy testing (using skin testing or RAST) may be possible to certain natural substances such as annatto, carmine, and saffron. Testing for synthetic substances is not possible or reliable, and therefore a trial of a preservative-free diet may support a diagnosis of food additive reactions. Search Related Topics:  food allergies  skin testing  allergist Allergy to Red Food Coloring/Dye While it is possible for a person to have a red dye allergy or other food coloring allergy, this is rare. I often see patients in my clinic who report allergic reactions after consuming food coloring, although this is often difficult to prove. Allergy testing is possible to food colorings, although extracts of the various food colorings may be difficult to obtain. The following are the most common food colorings that have been reported to cause allergic reactions... Related Searches Skin Rash Allergies Allergies & Asthma Food Allergies Allergies Treatment Allergies Symptoms Featured Articles Frequently Asked Questions Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies   More from About.com The Perfect Engagement Ring How to find a gorgeous ring with a style and price that suit your needs. Read more...> Best U.S. Destinations Experts pick the top U.S. destinations for 2013 based on budget, special events, and more. Read more...> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies   Follow me on: Advertisement