A recent study published in the British medical journal, The Lancet, found that common food additives including preservatives and artificial colorings can increase hyperactive behavior in a broad range of children, not just those with a previously diagnosed problem with attention and hyperactivity.
This was the first well controlled scientific study to conclusively confirm a link that had long been suspected by many parents. Many parents and ADHD support groups have long recommended removing such additives from children's diets, although doctors have questioned the correlation between diet and hyperactivity.
But the new, carefully controlled study shows that at least some artificial additives increase hyperactivity and decrease attention span in a wide range of children, not just those diagnosed attantion deficit and hyperactivity problems.
“A mix of additives commonly found in children’s foods increases the mean level of hyperactivity,” wrote the researchers. “The finding lends strong support for the case that food additives exacerbate hyperactive behaviors (inattention, impulsivity and overactivity) at least into middle childhood.”
The Lancet study focused on a variety of food colorings and on a preservative, sodium benzoate. During the six-week long study, researchers gave a randomly selected group of several hundred 3-year-olds and of 8- and 9-year-olds drinks with additives — colors and sodium benzoate — similar to the additives in comercially available children's drinks. The dose of additives consumed was equivalent to that in one or two servings of candy a day, the researchers said. Their diet was otherwise controlled to avoid other sources of the additives. A control group was given an additive-free placebo drink that looked and tasted the same.
All of the children were evaluated for inattention and hyperactivity by parents, teachers and through a computer test. Neither the researchers nor the subject knew which drink any of the children had consumed.
Children in both age groups were significantly more hyperactive and that they had shorter attention spans if they had consumed the drink containing the additives. The researchers noted that hyperactivity could increase in as little as an hour after artificial additives were consumed.
On a personal note, eliminating artificial color, flavors and preservatives has made a huge difference in my oldest child's behavior and ability to focus.
