Is it possible that the foods kids eat could possibly be triggering for ADHD? A correlation between eating habits and ADHD was suggested by a newly released study. However, medical experts familiar with adhd questioned the researchers’ recommendation that diet become part of standard treatment for the condition.
What was learned with the ADHD diet research
The Lancet released a study on Thurs that stated ADHD might be addressed with an elimination eating habits. ADHD conditions were reduced 64 percent in kids in a research done by Dutch researchers that took away all food that would normally cause food allergies. The ADHD diet, based on rice, white meat and veggies, was administered to 41 kids for five weeks. An improvement in ADHD symptoms was evident in 32 of them. Then, the ADHD trigger foods were administered to all the kids once again. Most of them relapsed at this point. A control group of 50 kids ate a standard healthy eating habits and no reduction in hyperactivity was noted.
Pediatricians add their dosage of reality
Researchers think that when treating kids for ADHD, it can be good to use an elimination diet considering the ADHD diet research. Pediatricians do not tend to like the idea of the eating habits though. It could be bad for children to be on an ADHD diet. It could even end up causing deficiencies in the child nutritionally. Pediatricians think the improvements shown were likely allergy related as children with allergies show ADHD behavior often. There were not any independent observers of the ADHD research which meant pediatricians questioned if the methodology of the research was done.
The ADHD-allergy link
Processed foods high in sugar have long been suspected as ADHD triggers, however in accordance with the National Institute of Mental Health, no concrete evidence supports that assumption. Usually, when a child has an allergy, it means that asthma, and skin rashes, diarrhea or other things will show the effect is happening. One belief is that instead of showing those reactions, a child can have a brain chemistry issue because of an allergy to food. These questions couldn't be answered by the Dutch study or to tell you which foods to stay away from considering it was only a five week study. As far as a “standard” of care for ADHD, most pediatricians believe it all depends on the individual child.
Information from
CNN
pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/03/does-adhd-come-from-foods/?npt=NP1
ABC News
abcnews.go.com/Health/Allergies/adhd-food-allergy-case-restricting-diet/story?id=12832958&page=3
Business Week
businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/649603.html
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