Effects of Monosodium Glutamate on Energy Balance and Eating Behavior

Effects of Ingesting Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) on Energy Balance and Eating Behavior Following Moderate Energy Restriction and Weight Loss in Overweight Women

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT01410838

Enrollment

Registered

2011-08-05

Start date

2011-08-31

Completion date

2014-08-31

Last updated

2015-05-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Food Preferences, Obesity, Weight Gain

Keywords

Obesity, Food preferences, Eating Behavior

Brief summary

This study will test whether regular consumption of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) immediately prior to each of the three major meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) inhibits body weight and fat regain following a period of moderate, yet clinically significant weight loss.

Detailed description

The proposed study enables us to assess the long term effects of consuming MSG on body weight regain following weight loss.

Interventions

OTHERBroth

200 mL of sodium chloride containing broth, consumed three times per day

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

FEMALE

Age

19 Years to 50 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Women * Age 19-45 * BMI 27-35 * Blood pressure \<140/90 * Non-smoking

Exclusion criteria

* Anemic: hgb \< 11.5 mg/dL * Sensitivity to MSG (self reported) * Pregnant or planning to get pregnant * Taking medication for hypertension, depression, or weight loss * Diabetic * Vegetarian * MRI Contraindications: internal metal, braces on teeth, history of metal in the eye, claustrophobia * blindness or heavily corrected vision * not fluent in English

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in body weight	weeks 11, 12, and 25	Subjects will have their body weight measured to determine the effect of MSG on body weight regain following weight loss.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in body fat	weeks 11 and 25	Volunteers will have their body fat measured by DEXA (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry) to determine the effect of MSG on body fat regain following weight loss.
Change in eating behavior	weeks 11, 12 and 25	The effect of MSG on eating behavior will be measured using questionnaires, sensory evaluation testing, stress responsivity, and liking and wanting tests, and appetite assessments.
Change in resting energy expenditure	weeks 11, 12, and 25	The effect of MSG on resting energy expenditure will be measured using respiratory gas exchange using a metabolic cart system.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026