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Review
. 2024 Jan 9:6:100148.
doi: 10.1016/j.crtox.2024.100148. eCollection 2024.

Disruptive consequences of monosodium glutamate on male reproductive function: A review

David Tolulope Oluwole  1   2 , Oladipupo Samuel Ebiwonjumi  1 , Lydia Oluwatoyin Ajayi  3   4 , Olubunmi Dupe Alabi  5 , Victor Amos  2   4 , Grace Akanbi  2   4 , Wale Johnson Adeyemi  6 , Ayodeji Folorunsho Ajayi  1   2   6   4
Affiliations
Review

Disruptive consequences of monosodium glutamate on male reproductive function: A review

David Tolulope Oluwole et al. Curr Res Toxicol. .

Abstract

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most extensively used flavour enhancers worldwide. Although it is widely regarded as a safe food additive with no recommended daily dosage, its over-consumption has been associated with notably pathophysiological events in various tissues and organs of the body. Previous studies have reported of the neuro- cardio- and hepato- toxic effects of its excessive exposure. Moreover, the food additive instigates metabolic dysfunction. It has been established that MSG damages male reproductive accessory organs like prostate glands and epididymis. In addition, it impairs serum enzymatic activities and serum levels of testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone and cholesterol. Reduced sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and sperm viability, imbalances in male reproductive hormones, alongside alteration in the histoarchitecture of the testes and other male reproductive tissues have also been connected with excessive exposure to MSG. Literature reports affirm the link between the over-consumption of MSG and reproductive organ weight and male sexual behaviour. This review article addresses the multi-systemic effects of exposure to MSG and the possible mechanism of action of the compound with a focus on the negative implications of the food additive on male reproductive functions and the possible role of natural antioxidants in male reproductive functions. carefully selected keywords were used during the literature search to gather credible and up-to-date information about the subject matter.

Keywords: Hormone, testes; Male reproduction; Monosodium glutamate; Sperm.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chemical Structure of Monosodium glutamate.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mechanism of MSG induced impairment of male reproductive functions.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Natural Antioxidants in MSG induced reproductive dysfunctions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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