Maltodextrin and headache??

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:48 pm

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and trying to learn all I can and figure out my symptoms. I have been trying a GF diet since my colonoscopy last week, and I thought I was doing pretty well until yesterday. Right after dinner I got a splitting headache, and my stomach was a little "off." This morning I was better, but this afternoon the headache was back, as well as the not-quite-right tummy. After reading some posts on the forum, I double-checked everything I ate and drank. Turns out my "gluten free" drink mix has maltodextrin. Anyone else had this reaction to maltodextrin? I am used to the GI issues, but I'm not especially prone to headaches, and this one's a doozy.

Post by **tex** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:06 am

Hi,

Welcome to the board. Sorry to hear that one of your diet changes caused a headache problem. While it could be other issues, there's a reasonably good chance that the maltodextrin could be to blame. In Europe, maltodextrin is typically made from wheat, but in the U. S., it's normally made, (unless stated otherwise on the label), from corn. The problem is that maltodextrin is just one of many food ingredients that are often used as a way to hide MSG.

Manufacturers know that consumers don't want MSG in their foods, but the manufacturers love to use it as a flavor enhancer, so they try to hide it. MSG causes headaches, or migraines, for many, many people, including me. In my case, if I eat MSG, I no longer get the headaches, (they were a regular problem, back when I was still reacting to gluten), but I do still get the auras that are associated with migraines. That's known as an acephalgic migraine.

Food labels rarely name monosodium glutamate (MSG). It shows up under aliases such as maltodextrin or hydrolyzed vegetable protein.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=5364970

Here is a discussion of many other sources of MSG:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/nomsg.html

And here's a list of products that always, often, or may, contain MSG:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope that whatever turns out to be the cause, you can figure out how to avoid those headaches in the future.

Tex

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:33 pm

WOW. In my recent research into all the things that can possibly contain gluten, I completely missed all the hidden sources of MSG. One more thing to look out for. Do all people with a gluten sensitivity react to MSG?

Thanks for the links, Tex. I have printed out the list!

Post by **tex** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:02 pm

draperygoddess wrote:Do all people with a gluten sensitivity react to MSG?

No, but many of us do.

Even though the name includes the word "glutamate", MSG doesn't necessarily contain gluten. It's a problem as a source of gluten, only if it's made from wheat, (or barley, or rye). Theoretically, the 2004 labeling law requires that all ingredients that are made from wheat, must be listed as such, on the label, but the reality is, there are a few loopholes, and some companies tend to "fudge", (and fail to list it), especially if the amount of gluten involved is below the accepted standard for gluten-free labeling, (IOW, if a product contains less than 20 parts per million, of gluten, then current FDA regulations allow them to label it as gluten-free).

Imported products that contain MSG are more likely to contain gluten, than products made in this country, because ingredients that are sources of MSG that are manufactured in this country are almost certain to be made from corn.

You're most welcome,
Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 1:13 pm

This just made me realize how silly the 20ppm rule is. If it's a giant GF pizza, with 19ppm of gluten, and I eat half of it, I could be sick as a dog. If it's a dash of condiment, or a teensy-weensy vitamin pill, with 19ppm, I might be fine - or so very slightly under the weather that I attribute it to an odd night of sleep.

And this is why I think I'll continue avoiding 'products' as much as possible, and save some of my remaining reading vision for actual reading, instead of labels.

I am not sure whether MSG makes me sick - I have avoided it for years, because it made my mother sick (GI disturbances, headaches, the works).

Hope you're feeling better, draperygoddess, and I can't wait to hear the story behind your name ;)

Sara

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:24 pm

Still trying to wrap my mind around all this. I'm with you, Sara--it seems easier just not to eat processed foods than to try and figure out which ones will make me sick! Today has been much better, though my tummy wasn't happy this morning. No headache!

Regarding my screen name...I'm a custom window treatment designer/fabricator. Several years ago my then-boss nicknamed me the Drapery Goddess, and I guess it stuck.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:43 pm

Thanks for the name explanation - I was kind of hoping that would be your story! I'm sure those powers of imagination and follow-through that you bring to window treatment magic will help you get this MC beast under control. We all bring our own special powers into play, when the chips are down...

All my best,
S

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:58 pm

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Sara. I consider myself very lucky in that I don't have the severity of symptoms that many people do (yet). Awhile back my PCP told me, "When your symptoms get to the point that they're interfering with your life, we'll take the next step." So I finally got to that point, got the scope, now waiting for results (followup visit with GI tomorrow). I'm hoping that I can get this...whatever it is...under control before I have the catastrophic episodes some of you describe. I'm fortunate to be doing what I love, and want to keep doing it!

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:56 am

Sorry you had to wait till your life got to the point where you symptoms were interfering! (I now believe my 'simmering' symptoms probably represent years of damage, which I could have prevented if only I'd known about the gluten connection... and which I hope will be reversible!)

It's wonderful to love what you do, and do what you love. I hope you get clear and helpful guidance from your appointment. You can certainly get your life back on track, and you can ask whatever you need to here, in order to figure out to make your own path.

BTW I do get headaches after some foods - now that I've been GF/DF/*F for some months, I find this happens much less frequently, and resolves faster. I don't know whether I am less sensitive, or sensitive to fewer foods, as a result of diet restriction. Hopefully you'll also be putting a lot of minor symptoms behind you along with the biggies.

I look forward to your update, after you GI visit,

Sara