Food Additives and Hyperkinesia

Abstract

This article evaluates evidence relevant to Feingold's hypothesis that synthetic food colors and flavors cause hyperactivity. Feingold's opinion that a recent “epidemic” of hyperkinesis is due to an increase in the use of synthetic colors and flavors is examined. The authors conclude that there are no reliable data to support the belief that there has been an epidemic of hyperkinesis. Results from clinical tests and uncontrolled studies of an elimination diet are reviewed, and the contaminating effect of placebo responses is discussed. Finally, results from two recent controlled studies of the diet are examined. The authors agree with the investigators that these controlled studies show equivocal results which should be interpreted with caution. A moratorium on further public advocacy is recommended until the efficacy of the diet for a defined population is firmly established by controlled research.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

California State Department of Education: Feingold diet study of hyperactivity of children in Santa Cruz. Unpublished report available from California Department of Education, 1974.(a)

California State Department of Education: News release, July 17, 1974. Available from California Department of Education, 1974.(b)

Conners, C. K. , Goyette, C. H. , Southwick, D. A. , Lees, J. M. , and Andrulonis, P. A. : Food additives and hyperkinesis: A controlled double-blind experiment.. Pediatrics, 1976, 58(2), 154–166.

Feingold, B. F. : Introduction to Clinical Allergy. Springfield, III.: Charles C Thomas, 1973.

Feingold, B. F. : Hyperkinesis and learning disabilities linked to the ingestion of artificial food colors and flavors. Presentation to California legislative hearings, Education Committee, Sacramento, July 31, 1974.

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

Feingold, B. F. : Hyperkinesis and learning disabilities linked to artificial food flavors and colors.. Am. J. Nurs., 1975, 75, 797–803. (b)

Festinger, L. : A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press, 1957.

Food and Drug Administration: Proceedings of Sept. 30, 1975, meeting of Interagency Collaborative Group on Hyperkinesis. Washington, D.C.: USDHEW, Food and Drug Administration, 1975.

10.

Food and Drug Administation: First Report of the Preliminary Findings and Recommendations of the Interagency Collaborative Group on Hyperkinesis. Washington, D.C.: USDHEW, Food and Drug Administration, 1976.

11.

Grinspoon, L. , and Singer, S. B. : Amphetamines in the treatment of hyperactive children. Harvard Educ. Rev., 1973, 43, 515–555.

12.

Harley, J. P. , Ray, R. , Matthews, C. G. , Cleeland, C. S. , Tomasi, L., Eichman, P., and Chun, R. : Food additives and hyperactivity in children. Research report delivered to annual meeting of the Nutrition Foundation, Naples, Fla., 1976.

13.

Hawkins, D. , and Pauling, L. C. (Eds.): Orthomolecular Psychiatry: Treatment of Schizophrenia. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman, 1973.

14.

Hobbs, N. : The Futures of Children. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1975.

15.

Laufer, M. W. , Denhoff, E. , and Solomons, G. : Hyperkinetic impulse disorder in children's behavior problems. Psychsom. Med., 1957, 19, 38–49.

16.

Los Angeles Times : Hyperactivity and food additives; Senate subcommittee pushes study of link. Article Sept. 15, 1975.

17.

Michie, L. E. , Rossi, M. J. , and White, W. C. : Attributional change and the importance of baseline recording: A case study. J. Abnormal Child Psychol., 1976, 4, 55–58.

18.

Nutrition Foundation: Report of the Advisory Committee on Hyperkinesis and Food Additives to The Nutrition Foundation. New York: The Nutrition Foundation, Inc., 1975.

19.

Rugel, R. P. : WISC subtest scores of disabled readers: A review with respect to Bannatyne's recategorization. J. Learning Disabil., 1974, 7, 48–55.

20.

Schrag, P. , and Divoky, D. : The Myth of the Hyperactive Child. New York: Pantheon, 1975.

21.

Spring, C. , Yellin, A. M. , and Greenberg, L. : Effect of Imipramine and methylphenidate on perceptual-motor performance of hyperactive children. Percept. Motor Skills, 1976, 43, 459–470.

22.

Strauss, A. A. , and Kephart, N. C. : Psychopathology and Education of the Brain-Injured Child. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1955.

23.

Winer, B. J. : Statistical Principles in Experimental Design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.