Monosodium Glutamate: Berbahayakah?

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Question

Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful?

Every Chinese restaurant I go to has a sign that says "No MSG." What is MSG? Is it bad for you?

Answer

from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

With Mayo Clinic nutritionist

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that is "generally recognized as safe," the use of MSG remains controversial.

MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. But subsequent research found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and the symptoms that some people described after eating food containing MSG. As a result, MSG is still added to some foods.

A comprehensive review of all available scientific data on glutamate safety sponsored by the FDA in 1995 reaffirmed the safety of MSG when consumed at levels typically used in cooking and food manufacturing. The report found no evidence to suggest that MSG contributes to any long-term health problems, such as Alzheimer's disease. But it did acknowledge that some people may have short-term reactions to MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — may include:

• Headache, sometimes called MSG headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Sense of facial pressure or tightness
• Numbness, tingling or burning in or around the mouth
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Weakness

Symptoms are usually mild and don't require treatment. However, some people report more severe reactions. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG. When MSG is added to food, the FDA requires that "monosodium glutamate" be listed on the label — or on the menu, in restaurants.

Versi Bahasa Indonesia:

Pertanyaan:

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): Apakah berbahaya?

Setiap restoran di Cina yang saya kunjungi memiliki tanda "Tanpa MSG." Apakah MSG itu? Apakah MSG berbahaya untuk kesehatanmu?

Jawaban:

Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) adalah zat perasa yang biasa ditambahkan di masakan Cina, sayuran-sayuran kaleng, sup dan daging olahan. Meskipun Administrasi Makanan dan Obat-Obatan (FDA -the Food and Drug Administration) telah mengklasifikasikan MSG sebagai unsur makanan yang "secara umum dikenal aman", yang pemakaiannya tetap kontroversial.

MSG telah dipakai sebagai aditif makanan selama beberapa dekade. Selama bertahun-tahun, FDA telah menerima banyak laporan anekdot reaksi berlawanan terhadap makanan yang mengandung MSG. Tetapi, riset selanjutnya diketahui tidak ada bukti nyata hubungan antara MSG dan gejala-gejala yang digamberkan oleh beberapa orang setelah makan makanan yang mengandung MSG. Hasilnya, MSG masih dibubuhkan ke beberapa makanan.

Sebuah tinjauan umum dari semua data ilmiah yang tersedia tentang keamanan glutamate yang disponsori oleh FDA pada tahun 1995 menetapkan keamanan MSG saat dikonsumsi pada tingkat tertentu yang digunakan pada perusahaan masakan dan makanan. Sebuah laporan menyatakan bahwa tidak ada bukti yang mengesankan bahwa MSG menyebabkan masalah kesehatan jangka panjang, seperti penyakit Alzheimer. Tetapi diketahui bahwa beberapa orang terserang reaksi jangka pendek akibat MSG. Reaksi-reaksi ini -yang dikenal sebagai gejala MSG kompleks- meliputi:

• Sakit Kepala, disebut juga Sakit Kepala MSG
  
• Pembilasan
• Berkeringat
• Tekanan atau Keketatan Wajah
  
• Mati Rasa, Gatal atau Panas di sekitar daerah mulut
  
• Riam, Jantung Berdebar
  
• Nyeri Dada
  
• Sesak Napas
• Mual
• Lemas

Gejala-gejala tersebut biasanya ringan dan tidak memerlukan pengobatan. Akan tetapi, beberapa orang melaporkan beberapa reaksi lagi. Cara satu-satunya untuk mencegah reaksi adalah dengan menghindari makanan yang mengandung MSG. Saat MSG ditambahkan ke dalam makanan, FDA mewajibkan bahwa "monosodium glutamate" didaftarkan pada label -atau dalam menu, di semua restoran.

Source:

Nutrition and healthy eating,

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/monosodium-glutamate/AN01251,
Accessed on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 16:50pm
Translated by Saif Ali