Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by the inability to focus, over-activity and difficulty controlling behavior. ADHD cannot be cured, but treatment through medication, psychotherapy and education can minimize symptoms. The "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" published an article in 2008 that reviewed multiple studies regarding nutrition and ADHD. According to this article, many studies linked toxins like mercury and pesticides to higher levels of ADHD, reported nutritional deficiencies in ADHD, and found that certain nutritional supplements and avoidance of allergens and food chemicals improved ADHD symptoms. The authors concluded that nutrition is connected to ADHD and that more studies are needed to determine the role of nutrition in ADHD treatment.
Feingold Diet
Dr. Benjamin Feingold created the Feingold diet in the 1970s after observing that 30 to 50 percent of his hyperactive patients benefited from a modified diet. The Feingold diet requires elimination of all artificial coloring, flavorings and sweeteners, preservatives and salicylate-containing foods and medications. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Feingold diet is controversial based on a lack of research and knowledge about the percentage of children that respond to the diet, the degree of response from individuals on the diet and what specific additives or foods cause problems.
Food Additives
Researchers from Cornell Medical Center experimented with diet and food additives on 26 children with ADHD and published their findings in 1994 in the "Annals of Allergy." Their findings suggest that eliminating common reactive foods and artificial colors from the diet benefits children with ADHD. According to the Mayo Clinic, food additives like sodium benzoate and artificial colorings like FD&C Yellow No.5 may cause hyperactivity, but more research is needed to identify specific additives that affect behavior and confirm that limiting food additives reduces ADHD symptoms.
Salicylates
Salicylates are naturally occurring chemicals in fruits, vegetables and herbs. Foods containing salicylates are eliminated in the Feingold diet and include berries, chilies, apples, cider, cloves, grapes, oranges, peaches, peppers, plums, prunes and tomatoes. The CSPI says that the elimination of salicylates to treat ADHD is based on unconfirmed reports without scientific evidence.
The "Few-Foods" Diet
The goal of the few-foods diet is to identify which foods, if any, worsen ADHD symptoms. The CSPI says this diet restricts all food additives and foods that children are commonly sensitive to like wheat, eggs, milk and dairy products, chocolate, soy, corn and citrus. Suspected foods are eliminated for at least two weeks while behavior is observed. If behavior does not change the experiment can stop and a normal diet resumed. If behavior improves, foods are reintroduced one at a time and reactions are noted. Foods that do not evoke a reaction are considered safe, but foods that are observed to cause deterioration in behavior are eliminated again and retested later. The few-foods diet should not be used for more than a couple weeks because it lacks essential nutrients and makes it harder to provide a healthy, balanced diet.
Additional Nutrition Treatments
The University of Maryland Medical Center says omega-3 fatty acids and zinc may benefit persons with ADHD but have not been confirmed as effective treatments. Supplements like St. John's wort, gingko biloba, ginseng, melatonin and pine bark extract may help manage ADHD, but there is not enough evidence to support their use. The Food and Drug Administration recommends consulting a physician before using herbs or supplements.
References
- "A Parent's Guide to Diet, ADHD and Behavior"; Center for Science in the Public Interest; 1999
- "Annals of Allergy"; Foods and additives are common causes of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children; M. Boris, F.S. Mandel; May 1994
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Nutrition and environmental approaches to preventing and treating autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a review; L.T. Curtis, K. Patel; January-February 2008
- Mayo Clinic: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder- other treatments
