"ADHD.org.nz - Dietary Treatments"

"Dietary Treatments of ADHD"

Dietary Management

This is one of the most controversial issues being dealt with by the ADHD community. Rather than becoming simplified over time, the topic has become more complex. At the heart of the matter is the issue of whether diet influences behaviour.

Now doctors and scientists will tell you that behaviour and cognition are mediated by the monamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine,...) (Baumgaertel, 1999). The precursors to these chemicals are derived from what we eat.

In 1982, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal agency responsible for biomedical research, held a major scientific conference to discuss the issue. After studying the data, the scientists concluded that the restricted diet only seemed to help about 5 percent of children with ADHD, mostly either young children or children with food allergies.

The Feingold Diet

The diet/behaviour controversy was basically set in motion by one man, Dr Benjamin Feingold. In 1975, Feingold's book, "Why Your Child is Hyperactive", put forward a theory

Dr. Stephen D. Lockey, Sr. of the Mayo Clinic was an early advocate of using a non-salicylate and no-tartrazine (Yellow No.5) diet to treat urticaria (hives). His dietary recommendations were provided to physicians for their patients as early as 1948.

Allergenic Foods and Behaviour

Sugar

Yeast

Meg

Summary

While dietary management remains a controversial issue for the ADHD community, it would be wise for many (if not all) parents to reassess what their children are eating and maybe focus on the more healthy aspects of food such as fruit and vegetables.

Contrary to belief, it is not only artificial colourings and flavourings which cause problems, natural colouring has also been identified as a problem area for many children eg. Oranges, Mandarines, Tangeloes and Orange Juice.

Baumgaertel, A.(1999).
Alternative and controversial treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Pediatric Clinics of North America, 46 (5), 977 - 992.

Feingold, B.F.(1975).
Why Your Child is Hyperactive. New York, Random House.

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