Is MSG Safe for Lupus (SLE)?
For people with Lupus (SLE), MSG is worth limiting or using with caution both during a flare and in remission. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavour enhancer.
Status for Lupus
Why this rating?
MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavour enhancer. Some people report sensitivity to it, although controlled studies have found these reactions inconsistent.
People who are sensitive to this ingredient may notice gi. Individual responses vary, so this symptom category does not replace the condition-specific rating above.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is not part of the clinical review. Ratings above are unchanged.
What MSG is
Monosodium glutamate is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid that occurs naturally in foods such as tomatoes and cheese and is also added to food as a flavor enhancer. The FDA's position is that adding MSG to food is generally recognized as safe. The agency notes that an average adult takes in roughly 13 grams of glutamate a day from the protein in ordinary food, compared with an estimated 0.55 grams a day from added MSG.
Why it is still rated with caution
Many people describe themselves as sensitive to MSG, but the FDA points out that in studies where such people were given MSG or a placebo, scientists were not able to consistently trigger reactions. That is why the evidence for this ingredient is marked mixed and why the rating rests on individual tolerance, not on a proven mechanism. For someone whose digestive symptoms flare easily, a short elimination trial supervised by a clinician is a more reliable test than any general rule.
Reading a label
Added MSG must appear in the ingredient list by name, as monosodium glutamate. Free glutamate also occurs naturally in ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, autolyzed yeast, yeast extract and soy extracts, and the FDA does not require the label to say so. Foods made with those ingredients cannot claim No MSG or No added MSG, so if you are tracking glutamate, look for those names as well as the obvious one.
How MSG is rated across conditions
The same ingredient can mean different things depending on the condition. These are the ratings for every condition that has a guide for MSG.
| Condition | During a flare | In remission |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) | Avoid | Limit / Caution |
| Hashimoto's Thyroiditis | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Graves' Disease | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
| Lupus (SLE) | Limit / Caution | Limit / Caution |
Related ingredients
Same ingredient family or way of affecting the body.
Other conditions
Sources
Published sources
- Sarris, J., & Wardle, J. (Eds.). (2010). Clinical Naturopathy: An Evidence-Based Guide to Practice (1st ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 9780729539265. — literature
Clinical review
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, MSc Nutrition, Certified Naturopath & Nutritionist — last reviewed September 25, 2026.
This is general dietary information, not medical advice. Talk to your care team about your individual triggers.
Want to check a full product against your conditions?
Scan a barcode with FoodSage to see MSG and every other ingredient checked against Lupus (SLE) and any second condition you set. Learn about FoodSage.
