Hyperkinesis and Learning Disabilities Linked to Artificial Food Flavors and Colors

Feingold, Ben F.

doi:10.2307/3423460

Cited by 112 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…1 Subsequent studies, despite improved methodology, have failed to substantiate this claim [2][3][4][5][6][7] or have only shown a small effect. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] A double blind placebo controlled high dose azo dye challenge in a highly selected group of children with behaviour disturbance suggested a small adverse effect on the children's behaviour based on ratings on the Connor scale.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children

Bateman

Warner

Hutchinson³

et al. 2004

Archives of Disease in Childhood

272

190

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Aims: To determine whether artificial food colourings and a preservative in the diet of 3 year old children in the general population influence hyperactive behaviour. Methods: A sample of 1873 children were screened in their fourth year for the presence of hyperactivity at baseline (HA), of whom 1246 had skin prick tests to identify atopy (AT). Children were selected to form the following groups: HA/AT, not-HA/AT, HA/not-AT, and not-HA/not-AT (n = 277). After baseline assessment, children were subjected to a diet eliminating artificial colourings and benzoate preservatives for one week; in the subsequent three week within subject double blind crossover study they received, in random order, periods of dietary challenge with a drink containing artificial colourings (20 mg daily) and sodium benzoate (45 mg daily) (active period), or a placebo mixture, supplementary to their diet. Behaviour was assessed by a tester blind to dietary status and by parents' ratings. Results: There were significant reductions in hyperactive behaviour during the withdrawal phase. Furthermore, there were significantly greater increases in hyperactive behaviour during the active than the placebo period based on parental reports. These effects were not influenced by the presence or absence of hyperactivity, nor by the presence or absence of atopy. There were no significant differences detected based on objective testing in the clinic. Conclusions: There is a general adverse effect of artificial food colouring and benzoate preservatives on the behaviour of 3 year old children which is detectable by parents but not by a simple clinic assessment. Subgroups are not made more vulnerable to this effect by their prior levels of hyperactivity or by atopy.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children

Bateman

Warner

Hutchinson³

et al. 2004

Archives of Disease in Childhood

272

190

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…31–33 Feingold was an allergist, so his predisposition was to evaluate for potential allergens in patients. He suggested initially that children who are allergic to aspirin (which contains salicylates) may be reactive to synthetic food colors as well as naturally occurring salicylates, although he later focused in particular on food color additives.…”

Section: Adhd Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restriction and Elimination Diets in ADHD Treatment

Nigg

Holton

2014

Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America

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“…This may yet change. Dietary additives were occasionally suggested as the culprit in children’s adjustment for nearly 100 years, and in the 1970s, Feingold (1975) made a specific proposal that reactions to food, and particularly to artificial food coloring, might cause ADHD in some youngsters. This general idea appeared disproven at first (Kavale & Forness, 1983), then as studies accumulated it began to seem the idea might have some basis (Schab & Trinh, 2004).…”

Section: Epigenetics and Developmental Originsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future Directions in ADHD Etiology Research

Nigg

2012

Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

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Reviews salient emerging themes in the scientific literature related to identifying etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD. While bypassing the need for new treatment research, the review highlights three themes. First, recognition of the epigenetic effects is expected to revitalize the search for and mapping of early environmental influences on the development of ADHD. Second, neurobiological findings will have limited impact if not examined in the context of significant race and cultural variation in ADHD-related developmental processes, and in the context of rapidly changing social and technological contexts of children’s development worldwide. Third, further examination of the phenotype and characterization of its dimensional and categorical structure remains a major need. Overall, the coming decades of etiology research on ADHD will be expected to capitalize on new scientific tools. The hope in the field is that new insights into fundamental prevention can emerge.

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Hyperkinesis and Learning Disabilities Linked to Artificial Food Flavors and Colors

Cited by 112 publications

References 9 publications

The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children

The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children

Restriction and Elimination Diets in ADHD Treatment

Future Directions in ADHD Etiology Research

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