Effect of Sub-chronic oral Experimental Exposure of Monosodium glutamate on Biomarkers

Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive that acts as a preservative or as enhancer of palatability and is locally called Ajinomoto or white magi in Nigeria.
Objectives: This study assessed the effect of sub-chronic oral exposure to monosodium glutamate (MSG) on some plasma biomarkers of hepatic and renal function in adult male Wistar rats.
Methods: Sixty-four adult male Wistar rats of average weight 150 to 200 g were randomly assigned into two groups of MSG-treated and non-MSG-treated control rats (n=64). The control rats were orally given distilled water only while the MSG-treated rats were administered 5 g/kg body weight of MSG at concentration of 500 mg/ml daily throughout the period of the experiment that lasted 8 weeks; feed and water were provide to both groups ad libitum. A total of 8 rats, 4 per group were sacrificed weekly for blood sample collection and analysis of hepatic and renal biochemical indices.
Results: the result of biochemical analysis showed significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in mean of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Urea and Creatinine activities in the MSG-treated rats.
Conclusion: The increases in the levels of plasma biochemical parameters signal some level of alteration in the normal physiologic function of both liver and kidney.