Synergism Between MSG and the 5-Nucleotides

Synergism may be defined as the cooperative action of two components of a mixture whose total effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects [34]. MSG and the 5 -nucleotides show pronounced synergistic effects. Combinations of the 5 -nucleotides and MSG produce intensity effects as weU as taste quality effects. Synergistic effects are illustrated in Table 11.2. A 1 1 ratio of MSG-IMP resulted in a sevenfold increase in flavor intensity (maximum effect). 

It was of interest that a 1 1 mixture MSG-GMP produced a thirtyfold increase in flavor intensity. Therefore, it would appear that the most effective flavor potentiator system to use would be a 1 1 mix of MSG and GMP. However, due to the relatively higher cost of 5 -nucleotides, they are seldom used at a 1 1 ratio with MSG. Typically a 95 5 ratio of MSG-IMP/GMP (1 1 IMP GMP) is used in the indnstry. This combination yields approximately a sixfold synergistic effect [8]. 

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