Back to search results

Monosodium Glutamate and Imidazole Propionate Production in Healthy Adults

This study is looking at whether monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common food flavor enhancer, affects the levels of a substance called imidazole propionate (ImP) in your blood. ImP is made by gut bacteria and has been linked to blood sugar control issues. Researchers want to see if taking MSG along with L-histidine (a dietary supplement) increases blood ImP levels compared to taking a salt placebo with L-histidine. They will also track how ImP levels change over time. You can join if you are a healthy adult, aged 18 or older, and have not used antibiotics recently. You cannot participate if you have diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, an MSG allergy, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. The study plans to enroll 18 healthy volunteers.

Study design
This is an interventional study involving 18 healthy adult volunteers. Participants will receive L-histidine along with either monosodium glutamate or sodium chloride (salt) placebo.
What's involved
Participants will take L-histidine, 4 g/day, and either monosodium glutamate, 3 g/day, or sodium chloride, 940 mg/day, for 7 days during each treatment period.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Blood imidazole propionate concentration will be measured at Day 7 of each treatment period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07700368

Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Microbiome-Derived Imidazole Propionate Production in Healthy Volunteers

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalBasic science
University of Chicago
~18 participants
Updated 2026-07-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:L-histidineMonosodium glutamate (MSG)Sodium chloride (NaCl)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Difference in blood imidazole propionate concentration between the monosodium glutamate and sodium chloride treatment periods
Measured over Day 7 of each treatment period

Conditions

Healthy Adult

Explore related trials

Healthy Adult

NCT07700368

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Duchossois Family Institute, Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery (KCBD), Room 4214

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Who to contact

Sam Light, PhD
[email protected]
773-702-3435
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 years or older
No antibiotic use in the previous 3 months

Exclusion

Diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes (any type)
Inflammatory bowel disease or other gastrointestinal disorder
Known allergy or intolerance to monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Current participation in another clinical trial
High habitual dietary intake of MSG or histidine

What this trial measures

  • Difference in blood imidazole propionate concentration between the monosodium glutamate and sodium chloride treatment periodsDay 7 of each treatment period

    Blood imidazole propionate concentration measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) from the blood sample collected on day 7 of each 7-day treatment period. The outcome is the within-participant difference between the day-7 concentration following the L-histidine + MSG period and the day-7 concentration following the L-histidine + NaCl period.