The Preventive Effect of Vitamin E on The Neurological Toxicity of Monosodium Glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been added to infant formula but, is shown to be toxic to newborn animals. The present study is designed to find out whether vit E has a protective effect on the neurological symptoms against MSG toxicity in animals. One-day old one hundred chicks were divided into five equal groups. The chicks in group A were given MSG (3g/kg) and the chicks in groups B and C were given pyridoxine (7mg/kg) and vitamin E (60 U/kg) respectively 10 minutes before MSG (3 g/kg). The chicks in group D were injected with vitamin E (60 U/kg) 24 hours before MSG (3g/kg). Group E was control and only sterile water (0.5 ml) was injected. In group A, 15 chicks developed neurological sysmptoms, 17 died within 24 hours, and all died within 48 hours. In group B, 14 chicks developed neurologicals systoms, 18 died within 24 hours and 19 died within 48 hours. In group C, 15 chicks developed neurological symptoms, 5 died within 48 hours, 5 more died in 48 hours. No abnormality was noted in groups D and E. In conclusion, this study shows that vitamin E has a protective effect on the neurological symptoms against MSG if it is given 24 hours before MSG.