Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Information on The Feingold Diet for ADHD

The Feingold Diet for ADHD: Reader's Responses

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Reader's Experience with the Feingold Diet for ADHD...

Dr. Cowan, Below is some information that I've gleaned from the web. I've tried to follow these methods with my son to curb the ADD/ADHD symptoms. I also tried something else recommended by a Dr. Lindon Smith (not sure of the spelling...this was years ago). I wish that I could report success. There was no noticeable improvement. But, for what it's worth...here is some information Mary

Food Additives: Food Additives and Hyperactivity in Children Copyright 1996 Leading Edge Research The Effect of Sugar, Synthetic Colorings and Flavors on the Brain Although the effect on behavior of these chemicals can be quite dramatic, the effect on brain processing and intelligence can also be shown to be significant. Three years before the Canyon Verde study in 1979, the schools in New York City made a basic change in the school lunch program that excluded foods with a high sugar content, as well as eliminating foods with two synthetic coloring chemicals. Within one year, the scores on standardized California achievement tests went up 8%. The school system then banned all synthetic food colorings and flavoring. The scores went up another 4%. Three years later in 1983, all foods containing BHT and BHA were removed from school lunch programs. The scores increased an additional 4%. This means that school lunch programs are decreasing the mental capacity of children by at least 16%. Food Additives and Hyperactivity in Children A school study on rats and the experience of the students in New York City is not the only indicator that artificial colors and preservatives are causing behavioral hyperactivity in children. Lancet, the journal of the British Medical Association, despite its allopathic orientation, reported that these substances are capable of producing hyperactivity.

The journal once focused on Yellow No.5, chemically known as tartrazine, and the preservative benzoic acid, commonly found in processed foods. These two chemicals produced dramatic reactions in 79% of children. [1] Although a direct reference could not be located, it is claimed that the Surgeon General of the United States claimed that 8,000 people die of cancer each year from synthetic chemicals in food.

NOTES [1] A book on this specific subject was written by Dr.Bejamin Feingold entitled "Why Your Child is Hyperactive". Feingold was an allergist as Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco who asserted that synthetic colors , flavorings and preservatives were a major co-factor in both childhood learning disorders and behavior/conduct disorders. He started national clearinghouses known as "Feingold Groups" and his known for the "Feingold Diet", in use by families worldwide. For information, contact the Feingold Association, P.O. Box 6550, Alexandria, Virginia 22306, or call 703-768-3287. A newsletter is also available.

 

Doug, here are some citations that relate to the Feingold type diet (I received these from a friend on the ADD forum on Compuserve): Lipton MA Mayo JP Diet and hyperkinesis--an update.

In: J Am Diet Assoc (1983 Aug) 83(2):132-4 Ten years ago, Dr. Feingold proposed that hyperactivity and learning disabilities in children are commonly caused by the ingestion of food additives and claimed that elimination of foods with additives from the diet resulted in major improvements in three-quarters of hyperactive children. In the last five years, controlled double-blind studies have been conducted by many investigators to test this hypothesis. The results, which are mainly negative, are summarized. The authors conclude that 2% (contrasted with Feingold's claims of 75%) of hyperactive children respond adversely to dye additives. Even the 2% are questionable. There is no need for high-priority research or for changes in public policy regarding the use and labeling of foods containing additives. Hyperkinesis has multiple etiologies, which require other types of biological and psychological research.

Williams JI Cram DM Diet in the management of hyperkinesis: a review of the tests of Feingold's hypotheses. In: Can Psychiatr Assoc J (1978 Jan) 23(4):241-8 Through the 1970s, Benjamin Feingold has published a series of studies in which he claimed that a diet free of salicylates, artificial food flavours and colours results in a remission of symptoms in 30 to 50 percent of children diagnosed as hyperactive. Parents of hyperactive children have responded strongly to the hypothesis and have requested that their children be placed on the diet. A series of clinical studies of the Feingold diet have produced mixed results. More recently, there have been four sets of experimental studies which have resulted in rigorous tests of the original diet and a modified diet with salicylates included but artificial additives excluded. None of the studies give unqualified support for the hypothesized diet effects, and there are reports which refute the thesis.

Harley JP Ray RS Tomasi L Eichman PL Matthews CG Chun R Cleeland CS Traisman E Hyperkinesis and food additives: testing the Feingold hypothesis. In: Pediatrics (1978 Jun) 61(6):818-28 Teacher ratings, objective classroom and laboratory observational data, attention-concentration, and other psychological measures obtained on 36 school-age, hyperactive boys under experimental and control diet conditions yielded no support for the Feingold hypothesis. Parental ratings revealed positive behavioral changes for the experimental diet; however, they seemed primarily attributable to one diet sequence. Parents' behavioral ratings on ten hyperactive, preschool boys indicated a positive response to the experimental diet; again, laboratory observations showed no diet effect.

Williams JI Cram DM Tausig FT Webster E Relative effects of drugs and diet on hyperactive behaviors: an experimental study. In: Pediatrics (1978 Jun) 61(6):811-7 In a test of Feingold's hypothesis that food additives trigger the hyperactive response, 26 hyperactive children were randomly assigned to treatment conditions whereby they were given active or placebo medications in combination with challenge cookies with artificial food colors or control cookies without the additives. The children were crossed over into each of the four treatment conditions and experimental procedures were employed, including double-blind assessments through the completion of behavior checklists, by teachers and parents. Stimulant medications were clearly more effective than diet in reducing hyperactive behavior. The parent ratings indicate strong drug effects and inconclusive diet effects. Drug effects are marked in teacher ratings as well. However, when the children were receiving placebos, their hyperactive behaviors in the classroom were greater when eating cookies with artificial colors than when eating cookies without artificial colors. According to the ratings, approximately seven children were no longer hyperactive. There is evidence to suggest that the behavior of three to eight children was diet-responsive, depending on the criteria used. There is evidence, particularly in teacher ratings, in support of Feingold's hypothesis if it is modified. Further research is required to specify which subtypes of hyperactive children respond to a diet free of artificial food colors.

Rowe KS Synthetic food colourings and 'hyperactivity': a double-blind crossover study. In: Aust Paediatr J (1988 Apr) 24(2):143-7 Of 220 children referred for suspected 'hyperactivity', 55 were subjected to a 6 week trial of the Feingold diet. Forty (72.7%) demonstrated improved behaviour and 26 (47.3%) remained improved following liberalization of the diet over a period of 3-6 months. The parents of 14 children claimed that a particular cluster of behaviours was associated with the ingestion of foods containing synthetic colourings. A double-blind crossover study, employing a single-subject repeated measures design was conducted, using eight of these children. Subjects were maintained on a diet free from synthetic additives and were challenged daily for 18 weeks with either placebo (during lead-in and washout periods) or 50 mg of either tartrazine or carmoisine, each for 2 separate weeks. Two significant reactors were identified whose behavioural pattern featured extreme irritability, restlessness and sleep disturbance. One of the reactors did not have inattention as a feature. The findings raise the issue of whether the strict criteria for inclusion in studies concerned with 'hyperactivity' based on 'attention deficit disorder' may miss children who indicate behavioural changes associated with the ingestion of food colourings. Moreover, for further studies, the need to construct a behavioural rating instrument specifically validated for dye challenge is suggested.

Strain GW Nutrition, brain function and behavior. [Additional information: ABSTRACT ONLINE] In: Psychiatr Clin North Am (1981 Aug) 4(2):253-68 Current food intake has been shown to directly affect neurotransmission, with resultant modification of behavior. The role of vitamin co-factors in brain function is discussed, with emphasis on changes in mood and neurological function with deficiency. The use of megadoses of vitamins for the treatment of psychiatric diseases has little scientific support at this time. Current research also does not substantiate the Feingold thesis of improvement in childhood hyperkinesis when an additive-free diet is consumed. The effects of medications used to moderate mood are related to changes in nutrient intake that in turn alters weight status. In addition, the effect of certain nutrients modifying the dose response to mood altering drugs has been discussed. Finally evidence for mood state directly affecting the capacity of the body to utilize nutrients is presented. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Hello DCowan, In answer to your question, Diet never helped my child. I tried the Feingold diet - no go. I tried taking sugar out of his diet, probably good on the teeth, but he was still as active. My ADHD child needs alot of energy sapping activities. I planned things for him to do and expected a short attention span. As he got older, we did use medications, however, they are not the end all to be all, they are an assistant to what ever else you are doing with your child. Patience, planning along with medication seemed to be my best tool. He's now 11 and very adjusted to knowing what he has to do to accomplish things. He understands it may take him longer, but he does not stop trying. Hope this helps. ------------

 

We tried the Feingold diet for our 5 year old son. We didn't notice any significant improvement other than realizing that a couple of very definite foods such as Fruit Loop cereal and M&Ms did seem to escalate our son's hyperactivity. So, obviously these items and similar such items have been eliminated from his diet. But, overall, the diet didn't seem to help. We've started our son on the Attend and Extress about 2 weeks ago. so, we're waiting to see if that helps. -

 

Dear Dr. Cowan, I have never been able to get my 13yo ADHD son to actually go on a diet. He has gained so much weight, I do believe to the medications. Currently on Nortriptlinene (spelling may be wrong) and Clonadine 1/2 tab 3X a day. Now he has tried many other medications. Cannot take the Ritalin, Dexedrine due to the terrible tics that come out. The phychiatrist believes he has Tourette's Syndrome also, and I do also, but the Neurologist thought of it as mild tic disorder. Anyway, tics are present from time to time. When on stimulants, they are really bad and he also is more stimulated. He does better on anti-depressants, but become immune to them after awhile. The clonodine has helped him the most out of any medications he's had.

He has gained a lot of weight, roughly 30 lbs over ideal for 13YO. (Weight around 150 or so, 5'4" tall). About diet, sorry I got off track, just wanted you to have background, anyway, the child is much more hyper when given chocolate and caffiene type foods or drinks. I'm not sure if it's sugar, but I do think chocolate. I try to have him avoid these, but he's 13YO and very, very sneaky. I have a lot to deal with and controlling all things he does is extremely hard. Anyway, I'ld love to hear more about diet when you finish your research, I would really like to know also about this Feingold diet too. Does it work? What's it based on? Thank you for your time. I appreciate getting any help I can regarding this and ways to help my son. Sincerely, JG --

 

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