Research appearing in the Annals of Allergy (May 1994) evaluated 26 children with ADHD who were placed on an allergy elimination diet. In addition to eliminating artificial colors and preservatives, a number of foods were removed from the diet. These included common allergens such as wheat, dairy products, eggs, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, chocolate, and peanuts.
Of the 26 subjects, 19 responded positively to the diet. When foods or chemicals were reintroduced after a period of elimination, all 19 reacted to one or more substances during dietary challenge testing (elimination followed by reintroduction to assess symptom response).
The researchers also conducted placebo-controlled food challenges in 16 of the children. All 16 performed better on the days they received the placebo than on days they were exposed to the suspected food or chemical triggers.
The authors concluded that eliminating artificial colors and other chemical additives, along with following a hypoallergenic diet, may be beneficial for some children with ADHD. These findings suggest that diet may play an important role in both the development and management of ADHD in certain individuals.
