MSG intake, diet patterns and asthma in Chinese adults
What it found
In 1486 Chinese adults, MSG intake was not linked to asthma, but a traditional diet high in rice and vegetables was linked to more asthma.
The study followed people for five years.
What they found
Studies in people
MSG and asthma
MSG intake was not significantly linked to asthma. The asthma rate was 1.0%, 1.2% and 1.8% across low, medium and high MSG intake groups, a difference that could be due to chance.
Traditional diet and asthma
People who ate more of a traditional pattern, high in rice and vegetables, were more likely to have asthma. This link remained after accounting for age, smoking and other factors.
Other diet patterns
No link was found between asthma and the macho (meat and alcohol), sweet tooth (cake, milk, yoghurt) or vegetable rich (whole grains, fruit, vegetables) patterns.
Animal fat and asthma
Higher animal fat intake was linked to more asthma, but the numbers were small and the link was not statistically significant. Adjusting for animal fat barely changed the traditional diet link.
Smoking and overweight
In this sample, smoking and being overweight were not linked to asthma. The asthma rate was 1.0% among smokers and 1.5% among non-smokers.
Age and asthma
Older age was linked to more asthma. The average age of those with asthma was 62.6 years, and only two people under 50 reported asthma.
What the authors conclude
“While a 'Traditional' food pattern was positively associated with asthma among Chinese adults, there was no significant association between MSG intake and asthma.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that there was no significant positive association between MSG intake and asthma among Chinese adults.
- They say the traditional food pattern was positively associated with asthma, partly explained by animal fat intake.
- They call for further prospective studies with large samples and younger age groups.
How it was done
Some small trials and one early report suggested MSG might trigger asthma attacks, but results were inconsistent. The authors wanted to test this in a large population for the first time.
They asked 1486 Chinese men and women about their MSG intake and diet in 2002, then checked in 2007 whether they had been diagnosed with asthma. MSG intake was estimated from household monthly use.
What it can’t tell you
- The study had few asthma cases, so it may have missed a real link with MSG.
- It cannot show whether MSG or diet causes asthma, only whether they were linked at the time.
- People with asthma may have avoided MSG after diagnosis, which could hide a link.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal's policy and have the following conflicts. The data analysis was supported a research grant from International Glutamate Technical Committee. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.
- Authors work at
- Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China
The paper
- Title
- Monosodium glutamate intake, dietary patterns and asthma in Chinese adults
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Shi Z, Yuan B, Wittert GA, et al (2012). Monosodium glutamate intake, dietary patterns and asthma in Chinese adults. PloS one. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051567Free full textPubMed 23240044DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error