The correlation between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and food is always a topic of concern, especially with parents of school-age children diagnosed with the condition. Currently, only limited studies on how food affects ADHD symptoms are available. Each child reacts to treatments differently, as suggested by researchers, leaving the results inconclusive.
Definition
ADHD is a neurobiological disorder that affects approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children. In 2006, ADHD was reported in 4.5 million children ages 5 to 17, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. The National Institute of Mental Health reports studies linking ADHD behavior to genetic or environmental influences.
The disorder is traceable to either genetic or environmental influences, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
History
The correlation between ADHD and food dates back to the 1970s by Dr. Benjamin Feingold. According to the Organic Consumers Organization, Feingold reported a link between diet and several physical and allergic conditions. During a research trial, 30 percent to 50 percent of Feingold's hyperactive patients benefited from consuming diets free of artificial colorings, flavorings and salicylates.
The National Institutes of Health assembled in 1982 to confer and review the scientific research on diets and hyperactivity and concluded the controlled studies "did indicate a limited positive association between Feingold-type diets and decrease in hyperactivity."
Diet Types
The Feingold diet and elimination diet are the two most popular diets parents are using to reduce the symptoms of ADHD. In the elimination diet, you restrict foods that contain food additives and dyes, wheat, eggs, milk, dairy foods, chocolate, soybean, tofu and corn products, according to the Organic Consumers Association.
Significance
ADHD affects both children and adults, and there is no single cure to treat the symptoms associated with the disorder. The ability to eliminate or add certain foods to your diet is an alternative way to treat the symptoms, in combination with behavioral therapy, instead of using prescription medications. As of 2003, 2.5 million youths ages 4 to 17 were prescribed prescription medication to help treat ADHD symptoms, according to the CDC.
Benefits
Marcia Zimmerman---a clinical nutritionist---reports that choosing or eliminating certain foods, along with using vitamins or supplements, supports a healthy lifestyle, but also aids in decreasing ADHD symptoms in children, according to MSNBC. Adding vitamin B, protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron in moderation helps improve neural activity, reduce stress, has a calming effect and stabilizes metabolism.
However, Zimmerman also notes that reducing the amount of sugary and processed foods plays an integral role in reducing symptoms too. Foods that contain sugar, food additives, hydrogenated oils, caffeine and salt inhibit normal nerve functions and deplete essential minerals.
Misconceptions
According to Dr. John Huxsahl, a child psychiatrist for the Mayo Clinic, currently no clinical evidence is available to support that food additives cause ADHD, but some studies conclude certain food colorings and preservatives may contribute to the hyperactive behavior in some children. Dr. Huxsahl says more clinical research is needed to determine what foods trigger ADHD symptoms.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: What Causes ADHD?
- Organic Consumers Association: ADHD and Diet--How Food Affects Mood
- Mayo Clinic: Do Food Additives Cause Hyperactivity?
- MSNBC: 5 Foods to Feed Your Child With ADHD---and 5 to Avoid
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: ADHD--Data and Statistics
