A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in Archives of Disease in Childhood (June 2004; 89:506–511) evaluated preschool-aged children for the effects of food additives on allergies and ADHD. A total of 277 children were divided into four groups:
- children with neither hyperactivity nor allergies,
- children with both conditions,
- children with ADHD only, and
- children with allergies only.
At the start of the study, all of the children were placed on an additive-free diet. Over the following three weeks, the children were randomly given either a placebo drink or a drink containing artificial dyes and preservatives. The children were then rotated so that those who initially received the placebo were later given the additives, and vice versa.
From the parents’ perspective, the consumption of food additives and coloring increased hyperactive behavior. This effect was observed not only in children diagnosed with ADHD or allergies, but also in children without either diagnosis.
