Epilepsy, MSG, and Diet
MSG is known to interfere with anticonvulsant medication and induce seizures.
Hospitals actually advise against its use in patients taking anti-seizure
One veterinarian - who studies not only the physiology
of one species, but many, is quite convinced of the link between epilepsy and
the excitatory neurotransmitters glutamic acid and aspartic acid, not only in
animals, but in humans as well. For what he has to say:
In this Journal article the induction of seizures is
discussed by means of glutamate.
Epilepsy and Glutamate-Blocking Drugs
The glutamate blocking drug has just been approved as
of September 25, 2006, in the US for treating "Grand Mal" or primary
generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. The drug
called Lamictal (lamotrigine), made by GlaxoSmithKline, acts by inhibiting
the excessive release of free glutamate in the brain. See the following
Currently there is a major discussion about the
benefit of medical marijuana oil to treat epileptic seizures in children.
Marijuana contains CBD which is a glutamate blocker.
Epilepsy and Vaccines and MSG
Although epilepsy patients are advised not to eat
foods containing MSG, due to their interference with anti-seizure drugs,
like lamotrogine and topiramate (both glutamate blockers), MSG is listed as
an official vaccine additive on the official government CDC website:
We honestly don't understand how public health policy
"experts" can say that vaccines have nothing to do with seizures suffered by
many children after receiving vaccines with MSG in them. The fact that
30% of children with autism also suffer from epilepsy should be a red flag.
The fact that many parents with children who regressed
after vaccination report seizures shortly after vaccination should be enough
to spur thorough investigation.
Epilepsy and Taurine
In persons with epilepsy, taurine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, is found to be low after a seizure. Taurine deficiency can be induced by MSG ingestion.
For more info about taurine and epilepsy see:
It is unfortunate that most food scientists do not learn about taurine,
since it is usually assumed the human body can make it. Most lists of amino acids do
not even include taurine although it is one of the most prevalent amino acids in the human
body. It was not until 1986 that formula manufacturers added taurine to baby
formula, when it was discovered that human babies need to eat this particular amino acid
because they cannot make it.
One of the contributors to this website, a former food scientist, states
that most college food science programs rarely discuss taurine. In fact, when this
scientist attempted to discuss taurine with other food scientists, she often met with
indignance and denial that taurine even exists because they had never heard of it.
It is therefore unfortunate, but not surprising that many food
scientists do not even consider that interfering with an amino acid they have never heard
of could be a consequence of MSG ingestion - and possibly lead to an epileptic seizure.
Seizures and Pilots
Note that aspartate (found in aspartame) can be converted into
glutamate by a simple reaction in the human body. Note also that many receptors in
the body are affected by both aspartame and MSG. In 1992, the U.S. Air Force
magazine Flying Safety warned pilots not to drink aspartame soft drinks due to seizures.
In fact many pilots lost their licences to fly after seizures they believe were induced by
drinking diet sodas containing aspartame (Nutrasweet). Perhaps the aspartate acted
as a glutamate agonist, or was converted to glutamate which caused the seizure.
Either way, there are many pilots out there who would like to know more about this.
Perhaps, they shouldn't be eating the airline food either.
For an interview with a pilot's wife: