Things I am interested in…

Food additives and ADHD…

30 06 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.

Posted via email from attobrute’s posterous

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Date : 30 June 2009 at 16:10
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Will I be a Geek Dad? 20 reasons Jen thinks I might be…

22 06 2009

Adapted from Kathy Ceceri (http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/06/top-10-ways-you-know-you%E2%80%99re-married-to-a-geekdad/)

1. I think that maintaining the computers, game systems and home network is just as important, if not MORE important than doing dishes or cleaning the bathrooms.

2. She never knows when she’ll walk into the dining room to find the table covered with a computer broken down into all its component parts.

3. I’m a packrat, keeping every spare cable, screw and or slightly damaged electronic part for a future project.

4. I am thinking of removing the TV, cancelling Sky, and replacing everything with a large screen computer because all the good shows can be streamed on the Internet.

5. I spend a lot of time maintaining my personal blog(s).

6. I have considered installing stilts under the legs of our bed so my comic book boxes can fit underneath.

7. Our kid’s college fund consists of boxes of first issues of my favourite comic books.

8. I would like to sit down with the kid and read through the first issues (when he or she is old enough to treat them with respect), college fund be damned. (Well, maybe not Preacher #1.)

9. Every computer in the house has its chassis half open…and is still running.

10. I may pause any movie at any time to make sure that the colour temperature and brightness are set just right.

11. I think nothing of having the laptop on the dining room table to share funny stories and pictures I’ve found with the family.

12. Our house is colourful, and not because of paint, but because of toys, models, and my collection of videos and comics.

13. I have dissected a new appliance just to see how it works…

14. At times I have debated the relativity of fictional characters and or logical outcomes to movies and television shows.

15. A Periodic Table placemat for our child would be neat (and instructional!).

16. I am more than happy to attempt explanations of obscure scientific answers to “why?” questions.

17. It pains me to limit the kid’s computer time.

18. She’s not sure if the new Lego sets are really for the kids or for me.

19. I want to build my own robot.

20. I spend lots of time “helping” the kid play videogames.