I was amazed to see an article posing as a study recently titled "Can dietary Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Improve the Health of the Elderly?"  The article makes the case that since MSG excites taste buds and parts of the gut, it will make the elderly eat more and solve their health problems!  It is not a study, but a hypothesis.  My favorite part of the article is the financial disclosure "Supported in part by the Ajinomoto Company, a manufacturer of food and amino acids, including glutamate."  

It amazing me that journals continue to accept such industry sponsored hogwash.  Rather than focusing efforts on publishing manuscripts with the aim of advancing scientific knowledge or decreasing human suffering, scientific journals are bowing to industry.  Remember that whenever you read research that is contrary to reason, read the financial disclosure! 

MSG and aspartame are known to be potent carcinogens and brain toxins.  Additionally, research shows that MSG is bad for the liver--as evidenced by the wonderfully-titled study "Monosodium glutamate (MSG): a villain and promoter of liver inflammation and dysplasia.".

Read the rediculous abstract here.