Red food dye #40: Danger for ADHD and ADD symptoms?

There have been a lot of studies on the effects of artificial food dyes on children, dating back to the 1970s. The conclusions were mixed, but recently, an analysis of 21 of the most conclusive studies found compelling evidence that artificial dyes could contribute to symptoms of ADD and ADHD, such as restlessness and attention problems. Removing dyes from the diet was shown to be a quarter to half as effective in reducing ADHD and ADD symptoms, as giving the kids Ritalin or other medication. Conclusion: certain kids with ADHD adn ADD symptoms might not need drugs if the artificial dyes were removed from their diets.

In 2007, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency in 2007 showed that food dyes increase symptoms of ADD and ADHD in children. In the study, three different types of beverages were tested on 3- 8- and 9-year-olds. After drinking the mixtures, their behavior was evaluated by parents and teachers.

The first drink mixture contained artificial food colorings, including , sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), tartrazine (E102) and ponceau 4R (E124), plus sodium benzoate, a commonly used preservative.

The second drink mixture included quinoline yellow (E104), allura red (E129), sunset yellow(E110) and carmoisine (E122), plus sodium benzoate.

The third drink mixture was a placebo and contained no additives.

In the group of 8- and 9-year-olds hyperactive behaviour increased with both the mixtures containing artificial coloring additives. In the group of 3-year-olds, symptoms of ADD and ADHD increased with the first beverage but not significantly with the second.

The conclusion of the study was that consumption of food dyes have an adverse effect on symptoms of ADD and ADHD.

Following the results of this study, the U.K. Food Standards Agency started to advise parents to eliminate food additives from the diet of their children suffering from symptoms of ADD and ADHD . The Agency also stimulated food companies to remove artificial colorings from their products. In the U.S. however, the FDA still maintains that artificial food colors are safe when used in a proper way. The Center for Science in the Public Interest called on the FDA to ban eight of the most common artificial dyes, or at least affix a warning label to products that contain them: “Warning: The artificial coloring in this food causes hyperactivity and behavioral problems in some children.”

Many parents are not aware of the influence food dyes and additives have on their children. There are additives in so many different products, that a normal child with an average diet ingests additives every single day. The effect is constant, and parents will not easily see a difference in behavior, simply because the ingestion is on a daily basis with no or very few exceptions. For some reason, many experts are against experimenting with a healthy additive-free diet. They believe in the theory the family will expect changes when the child is started on an additive free diet, and that just expecting the changes is enough to actually see changes happen. The only way to know in a logic way if your child’s ADHD and ADD symptoms are an effect of food colorings and additives, is to simply take them out of the diet. Warnings that children might become undernourished when on a strict diet, are not based on any evidence nor logic thought. A healthy additive-free natural diet cannot be bad, contrary to the generally accepted diets we are feeding our children, based on ready-made meals and junkfood!

Ben Feingold created a popular elimination diet designed to treat symptoms of ADD and ADHD. The diet simply proposes the elimination of artificial colorings, flavorings, and preservatives in order to decrease ADHD and ADD symptoms. Some studies have disproved Feingold’s theory, it is not clear whether they really took out all the “forbidden” foodstuff, or only part of them. Some studies have been done taking out sugar from the diet, but substituting it by artificial sweeteners, known to provoke ADD and ADHD symtpoms in children! Many parents who have tried Ben Feingold’s diet have reported an improvement in their child’s behavior.

Even children who do not suffer from ADHD and ADD symptoms, should not eat processed sugars. Sugar and sugar-containing foodstuff leads to tooth decay, obesity, and has little nutritional value, just empty calories.

As several of the degradation products of the dyes have been found to be mutagenic or carcinogenic (…)some dyes were no longer permitted as food dyes. (http://www.food-info.net/uk/colour/azo.htm)

The most mentioned food dye in relation to symptom of ADD and ADHD is red food dye #40. In scientific studies, the strongest effects were observed in children receiving azo dyes and benzoic acid combinations. (source: http://www.food-info.net/uk/colour/azo.htm)

A quote form that same website:

Food Yellow 3, CI 15985

Origin:
Synthetic azo dye. (…)

Function & characteristics:
Yellow food colour. Very soluble in water.

Products:
Many products.

Daily intake:
Up to 2.5 mg/kg body weight.

Side effects:
Since it is an azo dye, it may elicit intolerance in people intolerant to salicylates. Additionally, it is a histamine liberator, and may intensify symptoms of asthma. In combination with benzoates, it is also implicated in hyperactivity in children.

Probably you do not need any more proof. And the proof is in the pudding: Try your child for one week on a additive and sugar-free diet, and see if you notice differences in behavior. Make sure to exclude sweeteners as well. According to a recent study you have more than 80% chance, that the ADHD and ADD symptoms are completely gone.

(image by Cheet12ah)

If you want to read about autism and food additives in particular, go to: http://www.usautism.org/food_matters.htm

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