# Sodium in MSG vs. salt **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009 "2019-12-17T23:20:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/1 "2019-12-17T23:20:42Z")
I’m on a low-sodium diet. Someone suggested that I substitute MSG for salt. But MSG is monoSODIUM glutamate. So does it have the same amount of sodium as NaCl, or less? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/2 "2019-12-17T23:41:44Z")
Regular salt is NaCl, so the sodium content by weight is 23/(23+35.5)=39%. [MSG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate) is C5H8NO4Na, so the sodium content is 23/(12x5+1x8+14+16x4+23)=14%. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/3 "2019-12-18T00:31:37Z")
Plus, generally speaking, I believe it’s typical to use a lot less MSG than one would salt. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/4 "2019-12-18T01:22:05Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Plus, generally speaking, I believe it’s typical to use a lot less MSG than one would salt. Yeah, when cooking with MSG, I’m guessing I use around 1/4 by volume MSG as salt. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/5 "2019-12-19T06:15:24Z")
[Here’s a study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5694874/) on the effectiveness of MSG as a sodium-reduction measure. From the conclusion: > [@](#): > > we could verify the use of umami substances as a strategy to reduce sodium in different foodstuffs (processed and homemade foods) without affecting the perception of saltiness and, therefore, contributing to the wellness and safety of the population. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/6 "2019-12-19T11:54:11Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > [Here’s a study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5694874/) on the effectiveness of MSG as a sodium-reduction measure. From the conclusion: Thanks so much for this. It’s a big help. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/7 "2019-12-19T15:58:18Z")
Be aware that Ajinomoto, the most common MSG manufacturer has Ajinomoto, MSG only and Ajishio, MSG combined with salt. We used to get gift boxes at Christmas with both and a few times my Mom used Ajishio when we ran out of Ajinomoto. Salt bomb! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/8 "2019-12-19T16:15:00Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Thanks so much for this. It’s a big help. Glad it’s useful! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-in-msg-vs-salt/845009/9 "2019-12-20T22:46:23Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Plus, generally speaking, I believe it’s typical to use a lot less MSG than one would salt. That’s true in the case of foods that are very flavorful, like… you know… pork rind.