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Question
ADHD diet: Do food additives cause hyperactivity?
I have a son with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What does the research say about the relationship between food additives and ADHD?
Answer
from John E. Huxsahl, M.D.
There's no evidence that food additives cause attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but an increasing number of studies show that certain food colorings and preservatives may cause or worsen hyperactive behavior in some children. Because several studies looked at a combination of food additives and their possible effects on hyperactivity and ADHD, it isn't clear which additives may affect behavior.
Food additives that may increase hyperactive behavior include:
- Sodium benzoate
- FD&C Yellow No. 6 (sunset yellow)
- D&C Yellow No. 10 (quinoline yellow)
- FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine)
- FD&C Red No.40 (allura red)
FD&C Yellow No. 5, used in beverages, candy, ice cream, custards and other foods, may be more likely to cause reactions than other additives. The Food and Drug Administration requires that FD&C Yellow No. 5 be clearly labeled on food packaging along with other ingredients. But many colorings and food additives don't require similar labeling, so it can be difficult to tell whether a food contains artificial coloring or other additives. One rule of thumb is that brightly colored processed foods are most likely to contain one or more coloring additives.
More research is needed regarding whether limiting certain foods helps prevent hyperactivity and ADHD symptoms. If you notice that a certain food causes a change in your child's behavior, you may want to try eliminating it from your child's diet to see if it makes a difference. However, consult with your child's doctor before putting your child on a limited diet. A diet that eliminates too many foods can be unhealthy because it may lack necessary vitamins and nutrients.
The approach for your child's overall health and nutrition is a diet that limits sugary and processed foods and is rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flaxseed and other foods.
- McCann D, et al. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: A randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet. 2007;370:1560.
- Bateman B, et al. 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. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2004;89:506.
- Schab DW, et al. Do artificial food colors promote hyperactivity in children with hyperactive syndromes? A meta-analysis of double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2004;6:423.
- Food ingredients and colors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodIngredientsPackaging/ucm094211.htm. Accessed Sept. 24, 2009.
- Weber W, et al. Complementary and alternative medical therapies for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2007;54:983.
