Preliminary Investigation of the Renal Toxicity of Monosodium Glutamate in Rats Determined by Some Serum Biochemical Markers

The potential renal toxicity of monosodium glutamate (MSG) following dietary administration for four weeks in Albino rats was preliminary investigated by the measurement of serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine levels. The rats were randomly divided into four (4) groups based on the proportion of MSG supplemented in their diets. Group A was fed with commercial chow (control) while groups B, C and D were placed on 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0% MSG supplemented diets respectively. The serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine were analyzed using TECO Diagnostic kits. The sodium and chloride concentrations in the experimental groups were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the control group. Group fed 5% MSG supplemented diet had the highest potassium concentration (6.00±0.83 Mmol/L) while the group placed on 0.5% MSG supplemented diet had the lowest concentration (4.68±0.16 Mmol/L). There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the potassium ion concentration between the experimental groups and the control group. The urea concentration ranged from 6.28±0.10 Mmol/L to 7.13±0.36 Mmol/L in the experimental groups whereas the creatinine concentration ranged from 1.38±0.48mmol/L to 1.4±0.11 Mmol/L. The urea concentration of rats in the experimental groups were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control group. The creatinine concentration of rats in the experimental groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from those in the control group. This work has shown that high supplementation of diet with MSG could induce hyperkalemia and hypouremia in rats.