Monosodium glutamate and headaches across decades of clinical trials
What it found
Clinical trials over several decades give conflicting results on whether monosodium glutamate increases headaches in people.
Many studies used doses much higher than what people normally eat.
What they found
Studies in people
Headaches in people
Clinical trials over several decades give mixed results. Some found more headaches after taking monosodium glutamate, while others did not.
Migraine trigger
The authors say monosodium glutamate could be a possible trigger for migraines and headaches. Scientists do not yet know exactly how it might cause migraines.
Other findings
Doses used in trials
Many studies gave people amounts much higher than what they would normally eat. The doses also varied a lot from one trial to another.
Foods containing MSG
There are common misunderstandings about which foods and types of cooking contain this ingredient.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest that monosodium glutamate could be a potential trigger for migraines and headaches.
- They advise people to accurately figure out if this ingredient is in their diet before judging its effect on headaches.
- They note that scientists still need to work out exactly how it might lead to migraines.
How it was done
The authors wanted to look at the evidence linking monosodium glutamate to headaches and migraines. This ingredient is widely blamed for triggering headaches, but scientists debate whether it actually causes them.
They looked at various clinical trials from the past several decades that tested monosodium glutamate and headaches in people. The exact number of trials or participants is not given. They noted that the amounts of the ingredient given to people varied a lot between studies.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- Because the trials used different amounts, it is hard to compare their results directly.
- Many studies used doses far above normal eating, so they may not show what happens with everyday meals.
- These trials cannot prove that typical food amounts cause headaches.
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
- 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 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error