Research
Adherence
MSG consumption may increase food intake and palatability, leading to higher energy intake and potential weight gain, particularly in animal models.
MSG makes food taste better, which can lead to eating more. If you notice you eat larger portions when MSG is present, consider moderating your intake of processed foods that contain it.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Added MSG flavoring, which enhances the taste or provides umami, increases food palatability, and may increase food intake.
Why this rating
Animal studies support increased intake, but human studies show mixed results on actual weight change.
Source
Monosodium glutamate: A hidden risk factor for obesity?
Ka Kahe et al. · Obesity Reviews · 2025
DOI 10.1111/obr.13903
narrative_reviewCited 10×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Chronic consumption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) is associated with increased risk of obesity and weight gain, primarily through mechanisms involving hypothalamic damage, leptin resistance, and altered gut microbiota.Moderate
- Human observational studies on MSG and obesity show inconsistent results, with some finding positive associations and others finding no association or inverse associations, largely due to measurement errors and confounding factors.Limited
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