Rambunctiousness and overexcitement are frequent occurrences in childhood that do not normally require medical intervention. Persistent or severe hyperactivity is different. It is a frequent sign of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, a common condition that can wreak havoc with home life, school and peer relationships. Genetics, environmental factors and nutrition may all play a role. Consult a qualified health care practitioner if hyperactivity is causing problems for your child, and make sure she is getting good nutrition.
Sugar
According to Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, New York, some weak evidence suggests that sugar contributes to hyperactivity and other ADHD symptoms in preschoolers. However, in an interview with "ADDitude," a magazine for ADHD patients and their families, Adesman states that controlled trials have shown that sugar does not contribute to ADHD symptoms in school-age children, despite its reputation as a hyperactivity inducer. Adesman notes that despite the dearth of evidence, there is nothing wrong with parents restricting their child's sugar intake to see if it has any behavioral benefit.
Protein
According to an article in "ADDitude," dietary protein helps with alertness, in contrast with drowsiness-inducing carbohydrates. In the article, child psychologist Vincent J. Monastra contends that children with ADHD commonly do not eat enough protein at breakfast and lunch, potentially exacerbating their symptoms at school. Monastra states that protein not only can help children pay better attention, but that it may help with the restlessness that sometimes is a side-effect of ADHD medications. Try eggs, meat or milk products at breakfast instead of carbohydrate-rich dry cereals, toast or pastries, and see if your child's morning behavior improves.
Nutrients
According to Natalie Sinn, writing in the journal "Nutrition Reviews," various researchers have discovered a correlation between low levels of certain nutrients in the bloodstream and hyperactivity. Sinn cites several separate studies that found that children with ADHD are more likely to be deficient in zinc, iron, magnesium or omega-3 fatty acids than their nonhyperactive counterparts. Supplementation with these nutrients has yielded promising results in preliminary studies, but since ADHD likely stems from a variety of causes, supplements are unlikely to provide complete relief from symptoms. Use nutritional supplements for hyperactivity only under the supervision of a qualified health care professional.
Additives
In the late 1960s, a pediatric allergist named Benjamin Feingold began to assert that certain food additives were triggering hyperactivity in children. He claimed that eliminating foods with artificial dyes, flavorings and other chemicals improved hyperactive behavior in up to 50 percent of his own patients. Scientists at the time were skeptical. However, Feingold's ideas received support in a 2007 study published in "Lancet," a well-regarded medical journal. In the study, a group of children were given a beverage containing additives, while another group were given an additive-free drink that looked and tasted the same. The children who consumed the additives demonstrated far more hyperactivity than the other group. More research is needed, but cutting down on additives and observing your child's behavior for improvements is a reasonable and risk-free approach.
References
- "Nutrition Reviews"; Nutritional and Dietary Influences on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; N. Sinn; October 2008
- ADDitude: Nutrition, Diet, and Non-Drug ADHD Treatments
- ADDitude: Alternative ADHD Treatment: Can Diet Ease Symptoms?
- "Lancet"; Food Additives and Hyperactive Behavior in 3-Year-Old and 8/9-Year-Old Children in the Community; D. McCann, et al.; November 2007
- NIMH: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
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