Prevalence of the "Chinese restaurant syndrome".

A questionnaire survey attempted to define the prevalence of symptoms characteristic of the "Chinese restaurant syndrome" (CRS) in the general adult population. Forty-three per cent of 3,222 respondents associated unpleasant symptoms with specific foods and eating environments; however, only 1 to 2 per cent reported symptoms characteristic of the CRS, and only 0.19 per cent associated these characteristic symptoms with consumption of Chinese food. Most respondents who were "aware" of the syndrome and most of those who believed they had experienced it reported non-specific symptoms. If the word "syndrome" is to be used to describe symptoms attributed to specific food ingredients, the limits of the "syndrome" must be specified.

Family cooperation and effectiveness in a cholesterol-lowering diet.

An average reduction in serum cholesterol approximating 10 per cent was achieved in a short-term, family-centered study in which intakes of cholesterol and saturated fats were decreased and sunflower oil and margarine were added as the major sources of polyunsaturated fats. Dietary Achievement Scores demonstrated shifts in food consumption between baseline and diet periods. Changes were evident in all fat-containing food groups; meat was the least altered. A high degree of cooperation was evident in participating families, implying the possibilities for complete family cooperation in preventive or therapeutic dietary programs. Approximately three months after the end of the test period, cholesterol levels had returned to pre-diet levels, indicating the need for continuation of the changed regimen if cholesterol-lowering is to be maintained.

Objectivity of food-symptomatology surveys. Questionnaire on the "Chinese restaurant syndrome".

The Chinese restaurant syndrome consists of a characteristic symptom complex, with limited times of onset and duration after eating in a Chinese restaurant. There is widespread belief that the C.R.S. is due to monosodium glutamate used in preparing food in Chinese restaurants and that as many as 25 per cent of the general population may be susceptible to the syndrome. Questionnaires were developed to determine the unpleasant symptoms which 530 subjects associated with specific foods, eating places, and "ethnic" styles of preparing food. Over 90 per cent of respondents associated unpleasant symptoms with specific foods, but only 6.6 per cent experienced an event which would "possibly" represent the characteristic C.R.S. Nevertheless, when the phrase "Chinese restaurant syndrome" was introduced in a second questionnaire, 31 per cent of respondents believed that they were personally susceptible to it. Many people do experience unpleasant symptoms after eating, and particularly after eating food associated with a different culture. Although the responses to food symptomatology questionnaires represent an important aspect of the sociology of eating behavior, this procedure should not be considered an objective data collecting system.