Can a change in diet help reduce
hyperactivity in children?
Part one.

Having a hyperactive child, with symptoms such as disruptive and destructive behaviour, mood swings, temper tantrums, poor concentration and learning difficulties can leave parents exhausted and frustrated. For many parents they seek help from the doctor and may find their children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and prescribed drugs such as Ritalin. Ritalin can certainly help some children, giving them the ability to slow down, focus, and behave, however is it always necessary? Lawrence. H. Diller M.D, a paediatrician who has written extensively on the subject, suggests Ritalin may treat problems of ‘brain chemistry’ in some children but will also mask social or environmental factors causing hyperactivity in many other children. Prescriptions for Ritalin have escalated dramatically over the past few years and Diller suggests other possible causes of hyperactivity should be explored before prescribing this amphetamine like drug.

For children who do have a chemical imbalance causing their hyperactivity, then Ritalin may well help however there are many other factors that can cause hyperactive behaviour. The Hyperactive Children’s Support Group believes that diet can have a lot to do with hyperactivity in many children. This article will explore the links between diet and hyperactive behaviour in two parts. This week it will discuss the effect of additives on children’s behaviour, and next week it will explore whether other foods can exasperate hyperactivity.

The links made between hyperactivity and additives have been around for many years. As far back as 1987 ‘E for additives’ by Maurice Hanssen and Jill Marsden and was a masive bestseller. It listed additives, gave information on which ones were natural, why they are added to food, as well as which ones could have potentially harmful effects. In the same year Dr Neil Ward from the University of Surrey found that out of 357 children with a diagnosis of hyperactivity, 82% had adverse reactions to artificial colours, and 72% to artificial preservatives. Since then many studies have been done on this subject. However this year research has been undertaken which is proving to be one of the most conclusive studies yet.

The study undertaken by the University of Southampton and commisioned by the Food Standards Agency, has concluded that there is a link between certain additives and an increase in hyperactivity in children. The study involved 153 children aged three, and 144 children aged eight and nine. Over a period of six weeks they were given either one of three drinks; two being a combination of different additives, and the other being a placebo. Recipients were selected to be representative of the range of behaviour in the general population. The study showed children on the additive mixes, which contained combinations of food colourings and sodium benzoate, did become more hyperactive, than the group given the placebo. The colours used in the drink mixes were; Sunset yellow (E110), Tartrazine (E102), Carmoisine (E122), Ponceau 4R (E124), Quinoline yellow (E104), and Allura red (E129).

Other studies conducted on the link between additives and hyperactivity, while supporting the link, have been not been so conclusive. A study undertaken on the Isle of Wight in 2002, similarly gave groups of children either an additive laden drink or a placebo. The parents were instructed their children should follow an additive free diet apart from the drinks during the study. The results were evaluated using parents accounts of their children’s behaviour and assessments undertaken by psychologists. While the parents reported a beneficial effect on hyperactive behaviour when additives were removed, the psychologists were not able to find any significant change in the behaviour of the children.

External factors were carefully controlled and monitored during the Southampton study. Parents were asked to cut out all additives in the children’s diet during the study. Compliance with the diet was monitored by the parents writing a diary indicating how many of the drinks the children were consuming, as well as accounts of any slip up’s when the children may have consumed additives in other foods. The behaviour of the children was assessed using a range of different measures. Weekly assessments were made, using a standardised rating system, by parents and teachers as well as independent assessors who observed the children three times a week. The older children were additionally assessed by using a computer-based attention task. The attention to detail in the study has produced conclusive results that the government and food producers cannot ignore.

While this study supports cutting out certain additives, Dr Andrew Wadge a chief scientist from the Food Standards Agency says we need to remember there could be other factors contributing towards hyperactivity in children such as; possible genetic reasons, or social factors including the children’s environment and upbringing. Due to these possible other influences Professor Jim Stevenson from Southhampton University; the author of the Study, suggests parents should not think simply cutting out additives will prevent hyperactivity. However he adds avoiding additives is something parents and children can do, which may well have a positive effect on behaviour.

The Southampton study has certainly brought the issue of additives in foods into the public arena again. However shouldn’t we be looking at banning these additives if they clearly can have such a damaging affect? The Food Standards Agency have been criticised for not acting on the study and proposing a ban on the additives involved, instead they have presented the research to the European Food Safety Authority and have agreed to wait for them to make a decision on whether to ban the additives in the study.

They have however revised their information on food additives which can be found at Food Standards Agency - Homepage Also in October of this year they held a meeting where groups such as the British Medical Association, the Food and Drink Association, and the Nutrition Society sat alongside representatives from Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, and Somerfield to discuss further action that could be taken to provide advice to parents on avoiding additives. As consumers are becoming more concerned about what goes into the food they buy, food manufacturers are taking note, and now producing a wide range of foods which claim to be additive and preservative free.

Many studies, including the Southampton study, have supported the claims that taking a dietary and nutritional approach to ADHD and hyperactivity is well worth trying. If your child is hyperactive, instead of trying the drug treatment route first, looking at their diet, and cutting out food laden with additives may well have a positive effect on children’s behaviour. With a wide range of foods claiming to be additive free this is now easier to do. One added benefit of taking this approach is it may result in children and parents eating a healthier diet. Eating an all round healthy diet and getting all the important nutrients from food, can put a stop to many health problems, and is vital to help children grow and develop. Next week I will investigate the claims that certain foods can help or aggravate hyperactive behaviour.

“Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates