Archive for June 30, 2009

Last night Jen and I watched on television a strident, emotive and in my opinion biased documentary about food additives (specifically food colourings) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  It claimed that these additives, which hold no nutritional benefit whatsoever, are directly linked to ADHD, with the implication being that they cause it.  The presenter angrily demanded to know why authorities in NZ were "sitting on [their] hands", while the children suffered…

We were very interested in this, although I was skeptical and thought the science of the investigators was dubious at best, as we are expecting a child of our own soon.  I am currently working in a paediatric unit, so thought this was an opportunity to ask the opinion of my more informed colleagues.

Apparently the total current scientifically based evidence is thus:

• food additives do not cause ADHD (which is characterised by chronic and persistent symptoms in a variety of areas and situations), but may make ADHD symptoms already present acutely worse;
• also, they may induce temporary ADHD-like symptoms in children who do not have ADHD (with the corollary that these children will return to their normal state once the additives are fully metabolised);
• as with many such questions of this nature, further (scientific) study needs to be done.

Now, armed with what facts are available, Jen and I will be able to make a rational decision about what to feed our child when he or she arrives.