| Pregnancy
and Newborn Studies |
| A) |
Purpose: |
To
test the hypothesis that infants metabolize glutamate more slowly
than adults. |
|
Research
Institution: |
Departments
of Pediatrics and Biochemistry at the University of Iowa College
of Medicine |
|
Scientist(s): |
Lewis
D. Stegink, L.J. Filer, Jr., George L. Baker, Edward F. Bell |
|
Results
Published: |
"Plasma
Glutamate Concentrations in One-Year-Old Infants and Adults
Ingesting MSG in Consommé," Pediatric Research,
1985. |
|
Study
Design: |
- Eight
infants and nine adults were fed equivalent doses on a body
weight basis of MSG in beef consommé.
- Plasma
glutamate levels of each group were measured.
|
|
Study
Results: |
The
data indicated that the plasma glutamate levels in infants were
no higher than those recorded for the adult participants. Therefore,
infants metabolize MSG at the same rate as adults and do not
metabolize glutamate at a slower rate than adults. |
|
| B) |
Purpose: |
To
determine if MSG fed to pregnant females can cross the placenta
to the fetus. |
|
Research
Institution: |
University
of Iowa Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics
and Biochemistry and the University of Illinois Department of
Anatomy |
|
Scientist(s): |
R.M.
Pitkin, W. Ann Reynolds, L.D. Stegink, L.J. Filer, Jr. |
|
Results
Published: |
"Glutamate
Metabolism and Placental Transfer in Pregnancy," American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1987. |
|
Study
Design: |
- Eight
Rhesus monkeys were tested to see if MSG transferred across
the placenta after dietary ingestion of MSG.
- The
same test was performed on nine other monkeys using aspartame
for comparison.
|
|
Study
Results: |
The
tests demonstrated that the placenta is virtually impenetrable
to dietary MSG. The fetus is not exposed to elevated blood levels
of MSG after adding MSG to food. |
| Return
to MSG Safety |
