MSG, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup boost liver disease risk
By David Liu PHD
Saturday Dec 31 2011 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study published in the Dec 6, 2011 issue of Genes & Nutrition suggests that eating monosodium glutamate or commonly known as MSG, trans fat or otherwise known as partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may boost risk of various liver diseases such as adiposity, hepatic steatosis, hepatic fibrosis and liver damage like cirrhosis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can start with a relatively benign condition called hepatic steatosis, and then it may progress to a more severe disease known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with inflammation and eventually some patients may develop progressive fibrosis or even cirrhosis.
Previous studies show that a variety of dietary components such as fat, sugars, and neonatal treatment with MSG contribute to the development of liver disease. The current study was intended to examine how dietary MSG, trans fat and HFCS may contribute to the development of hepatic steatosis in a feline model.
K.S. Collison of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Saudi Arabia and colleagues, authors of the study, found the following:
MSG treatment increased adiposity and promoted hepatic steatosis compared to control. Hepatic steatosis, fatty liver disease or increased adiposity around the organ, is commonly associated with alcohol or metabolic syndrome (diabetes, hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia). The condition can also be caused by many other conditions such as metabolic dysfunctions, nutritional inadequacy, drugs and toxins, and other diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, HIV and hepatitis C.
Exposure to Trans-fat and HFCS promoted hepatic fibrosis and markers of liver dysfunction. Hepatic fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in the liver.
Dietary MSG promoted the expression of genes involved in cholesterol and steroid metabolism.
Conversely, trans-fat and HFCS feeding promoted the expression of genes involved in lipolysis, glycolysis, liver damage/regeneration, and fibrosis.
Cirrhosis can lead to the development of liver cancer or hepatic carcinoma. Liver cancer is estimated to be diagnosed in about 26,190 people in the United States in 2011 and the disease is expected to kill 19,590 people in 2011 in the country, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Alcohol, hepatic B viral infection and aflatoxin found in various foods are considered the major causes for the hepatic malignancy.