Several studies have linked diet, food allergies and nutritional deficiencies with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD. Some surveys say that ADHD affects nearly 20 percent of American children, according to a pamphlet on ADHD and diet published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an organization dedicated to consumer education about nutrition, food safety and other health issues. With these numbers in mind, it's no wonder that parents and researchers alike have become increasingly interested on the role diet may play in the development of this problematic disorder.
Benefits
A restricted diet may be a more beneficial option for certain children who respond poorly to traditional treatments for ADHD, such as stimulant drugs, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest informational pamphlet on ADHD and diet. Stimulant drugs, such as methylphenidate, sold commercially as Ritalin, have been associated with negative side effects, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, digestive problems and difficulty sleeping. Parents concerned about the effects of medications may choose to implement dietary changes as a possible alternative or supplement to medication. Dietary changes that take factors such as food allergies, harmful additives or chemicals and the effects of other types of foods on behavior may produce a beneficial effect in children with ADHD.
Feingold Diet
The Feingold diet was one of the earliest diets developed for the control of ADHD. Dr. Ben Feingold linked diet and behavior as early as the 1960s, when he developed the diet for children suffering from food allergies, according to the Feingold Association of the United States. Interestingly, children who followed the diet soon saw improvements in symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. The Feingold diet is based on the premise that food additives can cause harmful learning, behavioral and health side effects. The first stage of the Feingold suggests removing food additives such as artificial coloring, flavorings, sweeteners and preservatives, from your child's diet. The first stage also recommends removing certain natural chemicals, known as salicylates. Salicylates are found in apricots, berries, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables as well as certain over-the-counter medications like aspirin. Certain children are believed to have a salicylate sensitivity, which may trigger their ADHD symptoms. The second stage of the diet reincorporates some of the fruits and vegetables that were previously removed, based on the child's tolerance of these foods. Whether the diet is successful depends on level of sensitivity to the various substances, additives and chemicals, according to Dr. Pamela Compart and registered dietitian Dana Laake in their book, " The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook."
Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Many children with ADHD experience gastrointenstinal problems. Another diet that has received attention for its potential benefits for children with ADHD is the specific carbohydrate diet, SCD. This diet focuses on the idea that simple carbohydrates such as fructose, glucose and galactose, are easily digested and allow for better nutrient absorption than diets containing complex double-sugar carbohydrates like lactose, sucrose, maltose and isomaltose. Certain children experience difficulty digesting the complex double-sugar carbohydrates, leading to gastric problems. Avoiding these foods is thought to lead to increased nutritional absorption, leading to improved health for children with ADHD. The only carbohydrates allowed are simple sugars such as in honey, certain vegetables and most fruits, as well as non-carbohydrate foods like meat, some types of hard cheese, oils and fats, nuts, legumes, fish, poultry, eggs and well-fermented yogurt, according to authors Compart and Lake. All sugars, processed grains such as bread, pasta and starches, canned vegetables, fruits and meats, and milk and milk products containing lactose must be avoided.
Food Reactions
Common among children with ADHD are food intolerance, the inability to break down certain foods; food allergies, experiencing a reaction to certain foods; and food sensitivities, an allergic-like reaction to certain foods that occurs at a slower rate than a true allergic reaction. The most common foods that cause allergic reactions include nuts, milk, eggs, fish, soy and wheat. Food sensitivities include a broad range of foods such as certain proteins and other foods. Common food intolerances include products containing gluten, lactose and double-carbohydrates, as well as certain food components like phenylalanine and fructose. To help determine whether your child is having a problem with certain foods, a variety of tests exist to ascertain food allergies, sensitivities and reactions, according to Compart and Lake. Food testing may not be necessary until after other avenues have been pursued, such as elimination diets and other treatments such as nutritional supplements. A variety of factors, including reliability and cost, should be taken into account prior to having your child tested.
Clinical Evidence
Several studies have focused on the link between diet and ADHD symptoms. One study, published in the January 2009 issue of the journal, "European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry," researched the effects of a restricted diet consisting of rice, turkey, lamb, vegetables, fruits, margarine, vegetable oil, tea, pear juice and water on children with ADHD. Participants on this restricted diet experienced a significant reduction of ADHD symptoms, as well as co-morbid oppositional-defiant disorder symptoms. Other studies have focused on dietary supplementation. One promising study showed that children with ADHD who received magnesium supplementation experienced a significant decrease in symptoms of hyperactivity, compared to children who did not receive the supplementation. This study was published in the June 1997 issue of "Magnesium Research," the official journal of the International Society for the Development of Research on Magnesium.
Considerations
An article published in the March-April 2007 issue of the journal "Pediatric Nursing" examined the effects of food allergies, supplementation and specific diets such as a gluten-free, casein-free diet on ADHD. While the authors point out that these factors may all play a contributing role, they advise readers not to look to diet as a "miracle" cure. Instead, they suggest that a combination of nutritional, behavioral and parental interventions may be most effective for children with ADHD. Therefore, consult your pediatrician before making changes to your child's diet.
References
- "Center for Science in the Public Interest"; A Parent's Guide to Diet, ADHD and Behavior; 1999
- Feingold Association of the United States: Overview of the Feingold Diet Program for ADHD
- "Pediatric Nursing"; Diet and Child Behavior Problems: Fact or Fiction?; Eileen Cormier and Jennifer Harrison Elder; March-April 2007
- "European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry"; A Randomised Controlled Trial into the Effects of Food on ADHD; L.M. Pelsser, et al.; January 2009
- "Magnesium Research"; The Effects of Magnesium Physiological Supplementation on Hyperactivity in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); B. Starobrat-Hermelin et al.; June 1997
- "The Kid-Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook"; Pamela Compart, MD and Dana Laake, RDH, MS, LDN; 2009
