Monosodium glutamate and headaches: what the evidence shows
What it found
Clinical trials over several decades disagree on whether monosodium glutamate triggers headaches, and many used doses far above typical consumption.
It is unclear how it might act in migraine.
What they found
Studies in people
Conflicting trial results
Clinical trials over several decades have given conflicting results. Some suggest monosodium glutamate increases headache, and others suggest it does not.
Studies in people and animals
Possible migraine trigger
Monosodium glutamate could be a potential trigger for migraine and headaches. It is unclear exactly how it plays into migraine pathophysiology.
Other findings
Doses higher than usual
The amount of monosodium glutamate used often differed between studies. Many studies gave a dose significantly higher than the average consumption.
Food misconceptions
There are misconceptions about which foods and cuisines contain monosodium glutamate. Knowing accurately whether it is in your diet matters for judging its possible impact on headaches.
What the authors conclude
“MSG could be a potential trigger for migraine and headaches.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say monosodium glutamate could be a potential trigger for migraine and headaches.
- They note that it is unclear exactly how monosodium glutamate plays into the migraine pathophysiology.
- They advise that it is crucial to accurately determine if monosodium glutamate is present in one's diet to evaluate its potential impact on headaches.
How it was done
Monosodium glutamate is a common food additive that has been widely linked to headache and other symptoms, but whether it actually causes headaches is debated.
The authors reviewed clinical trials from the past several decades that looked at monosodium glutamate and headache. Doses used in these studies were often inconsistent, and many gave amounts much higher than people usually eat.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trials disagree, so it is not settled whether monosodium glutamate triggers headaches.
- Many trials used doses much higher than people usually eat, so results may not reflect typical diets.
- It is unclear how monosodium glutamate might act in migraine.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Mount Sinai Hospital, USA
The paper
- Title
- Unraveling the MSG-Headache Controversy: an Updated Literature Review
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Ahdoot E, Cohen F (2024). Unraveling the MSG-Headache Controversy: an Updated Literature Review. Current pain and headache reports. doi:10.1007/s11916-023-01198-zPubMed 38079074DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error