Trans fat and MSG impair learning and memory

Vy David Liu

A study in the Nov 26, 2009 issue of Physiology & behavior suggests that dietary intake of trans fat and MSG impair learning and memory.

Evidence has early suggested that intake of excessive dietary fat, particularly saturated fat and trans-hydrogenated vegetable oils can result in loss of memory and learning ability.

Collison KS and colleagues from Kin Faisal Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia treated C57BL/6J mice with either a trans fat enriched diet, dietary MSG, or a combination of both and compared their serum lipid profiles and spatial memory.

Spatial learning was assessed at 6, 16, and 32 weeks of age and mice were given 4 days of training to find a hidden platform and a fifth day of reversal learning.

The researchers found that mice eating the diet with both trans fat and MSG caused a central adiposity and impairment in locating the hidden platform in a memory test.

Elevated levels of fasting serum LDL-C and T-CHOL:HDL-C ratio and the lowest levels of HDL-C were also found in the group of mice on the trans fat and MSG diet.

Trans fat increases bad cholesterol and lower serum levels of the good cholesterol. This artificial fat that is widely used in processed foods has been found to play a role in the development of diabetes among other diseases.

MSG is toxic to neurons. This umami bearing compound is naturally found in all types of foods particularly in meat products and savory products.

The researchers concluded "Dietary trans-fat combined with MSG increased central adiposity, promoted dyslipidemia and impaired spatial learning."