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Currently, many different additives are used in the production of various food products, which give them color, taste, aroma and other properties. For this, various synthetic preservatives, dyes, flavors, flavor enhancers, emulsifiers, stabilizers and other substances marked E are often used.
One of them is sodium inosinate, labeled E631. What is this nutritional supplement and what value does it bring to the body?
General characteristics
Sodium inosinate is a synthetic derived substance, which is the sodium salt of inosinic acid. Other possible names for this product: E631, disubstituted sodium inosinate, Disodium Inosinate. Chemical formula of the substance: C10H11N4Na2O8P. Widely used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer. Most often, it is used to obtain the so-called “umami” taste, while being used in conjunction with monosodium glutamate due to the high cost of the former.
In nature, such a substance is found in some types of fish and animals. A lot of it is in pigs.
Sodium inosinate is usually an odorless, white crystalline powder. Sometimes it can be completely transparent. Such an additive dissolves well in water, but not very much in an alcohol liquid.
Industrially, this flavor enhancer is obtained in different ways. The most common of these is the fermentation of glucose by various strains of bacteria. There is also a chemical method in which the additive is synthesized by reacting inosic acid with a metal.
Harmful and beneficial properties of sodium inosinate
As a result of various studies, direct evidence of the carcinogenicity of such a food additive has not yet been revealed, as well as its effect on the reproductive function of the body. However, this substance has not yet been finally studied and it is rather early to talk about possible harmlessness. That is why it is not recommended to abuse this food supplement, and its maximum daily allowance is set within three grams per day.
The use of a larger amount of a synthetic flavor enhancer provokes the appearance of negative consequences in the body. First of all, the digestive system and organs of the gastrointestinal tract are under attack. At the same time, adults suffer from terrible diarrhea, and small children are more prone to constipation.
Some sources indicate that sodium inosinate causes an increase in blood pressure, so it should be avoided by those people who suffer from hypertension.
There are also negative and negative effects of the use of this dietary supplement, which have been called “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”. These include symptoms, mostly expressed in:
- headache;
- sharp jumps in blood pressure;
- increased sweating;
- redness of the skin of the face;
- heart palpitations;
- mouth numbness;
- muscle weakness.
It is not recommended to use sodium inosinate during pregnancy and lactation, as well as asthma, gout, rheumatism and allergic reactions, as this substance can provoke an exacerbation of various chronic diseases.
At the same time, one should not forget about some usefulness of sodium inosinate. There is an opinion that this sodium salt improves liver function, contributes to the normalization of hematopoietic processes, and stabilizes lipid metabolism in the body.
However, you should not get carried away with such a food supplement, because, like its closest relative, monosodium glutamate, with which it is usually used, it contributes to the emergence of physiological and psychological dependence. Simply put, sodium inosinate is addictive.
But despite this, the use of such a flavor enhancer is allowed in many countries: in Russia, Ukraine, the United States of America, the European Union. At the same time, only disubstituted sodium inosinate is allowed for ingestion in the Russian Federation.
Application of flavor enhancer E631
Such a food additive is usually not used on its own, since its production requires significant material costs. Often, to reduce the cost, sodium inosinate is combined with sodium guanylate – E627 or monosodium glutamate – E621. Sometimes there are all three additives at the same time.
The most popular products to use flavor enhancers are:
- chips, crackers and snacks;
- fast food;
- dried and dried meats and sausages;
- semi-finished products: nuggets, dumplings, hamburgers;
- canned foods;
- sauces and salads.
This food additive is used for the production of various seasonings, as well as minced fish, from which crab sticks are prepared.
Instead of conclusions
Sodium inosinate is a synthetic food additive that allows you to enhance the taste and aroma of various dishes in the food industry. As a rule, it is used in combination with other enhancers, such as monosodium glutamate or sodium guanylate, and therefore its cost is significantly reduced. Despite the fact that the product is not banned for use in many countries, its use, especially in large quantities, can lead to negative reactions and lead to some unpleasant consequences for the body.