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Dec 31, 2017Keywords:
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Effect of monosodium glutamate on the liver and kidney function of adult albino rats and the protective potentials of vitamin E
Abstract
Background of the study: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is one of the world's most extensively used food additives which is ingested as part of commercially processed foods. MSG produces a flavor that cannot be provided by other foods. It elicits a taste described by Japanese as umami, which is translated to "savory".
Materials and methods: A total 24 male adult albino rats weighing (80-120 g) were used in the study. They were randomly assigned to 4 groups, and six rats per groups and three replicates of two rats per replicate. Group 1 served as the control group and the groups 2, 3, and 4 served as the test groups. MSG was administered to rats at dose of 0.6 mg/g body weight for 30 days.
Results: Body weight and relative liver and kidney weights of the rat significantly increased. Regarding to liver functions, the activities of alanine transferase (ALT) and aspartate transferase (AST) significantly (P<0.05) increased in the serum on MSG administration, meanwhile serum total protein, albumin and serum total bilirubin significantly (P<0.05) decreased. Serum urea and creatinine were significantly (P<0.05) increased. In the histology, the kidney of the rats treated with MSG had early degeneration changes like glomerular shrinkage, affected urinary tubules and connective tissues while the liver had depleted cytoplasm, eroded endothelial layer and degenerated nuclei. Vitamin E co-administered with MSG, significantly restored the body weight and the relative liver and kidney functions to slightly controlled levels.
Conclusion: The results showed that MSG at the dose of 0.6 mg/g body weight may cause an adverse effect on the hepatic and renal function which may be due to oxidative stress induced by MSG on the liver and kidney tissue. Supplementation of vitamin E was capable of ameliorating MSG-induced oxidative stress on hepatic and renal functions.
