Do Food Dyes Cause ADHD?

Do food dyes cause hyperactivity in children? I remember first hearing this hypothesis from the mother of a classmate back in the 1970s. My friend's little brother was one of those children adults called a "handful," a kid who today would probably be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and treated with drugs like Ritalin. But his mom was sure it wasn't anything really wrong with him: He just had too many food additives in his diet.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meets this week to take a second look at eight food dyes found in everything from breakfast cereals to macaroni and cheese. Parents and consumer advocates who believe food additives are the real culprit behind ADHD hope the regulatory agency will follow the European trend towards food label warnings and outright bans of food dyes.

Food Dyes and ADHD: What Research Shows
Research comparing ADHD rates looked at the number of children with ADHD in North America, where kids are exposed to a heavy load of additives. Rates were only slightly higher than in European countries where exposure to food dyes is better regulated. Scientists say the difference is due to the use of two distinct sets of diagnostic guidelines. (European guidelines are less flexible and tend to diagnose fewer children anyway.) So if food dyes are the problem, why doesn't better regulation in Europe mean less ADHD?

Food Dyes Not the Only Culprit
In the 1960s and 1970s Dr. Ben Feingold identified some 5,000 petroleum-based chemicals he linked to ADHD and other disorders - far more than the eight food dyes the FDA is investigating this week. But we wouldn't have the complete picture even if we were to eliminate all these chemicals from our foods.

Some of the triggers for ADHD symptoms are wholesome, natural foods.

The Feingold diet eliminates salicylates, chemicals similar to aspirin that occur naturally in foods like grapes, tomatoes and oranges. Current research also identifies a number of non-salicylate foods that aggravate ADHD symptoms (wheat, corn, soy, milk, chocolate, eggs and legumes.) Research shows that kids who react to food dyes are likely to have problems with these foods too. "Cosensitivity" - reacting to several types of food and food additives - is "more the rule than the exception."

Controlling ADHD with Diet
Using a strict diet to treat conditions like ADHD or autism is popular among parents. Some prefer a natural approach to treatment with drugs. Others have had little help from mainstream medicine. But is this the best approach for your family? Such diets tend to be expensive, and foods can be hard to find in some areas. Parents should be aware they may have to put the whole family on the diet to prevent cheating. This is an approach that requires a good deal of commitment.

If you want to treat your child's ADHD symptoms through diet you should discuss it with qualified health providers. An allergist can help you pinpoint specific food sensitivities. A registered dietician can help you create a healthy meal plan that meets all your child's nutritional needs. Support groups, books and web sites that advocate diets like the Feingold program can be helpful when it comes time to find the foods you need. They are also great places to find recipes and tricks for helping your child adjust to a new way of eating.