Finally a study proving what we already know...

[Jeff]

There is a new British study showing the link between artificial colors, preservatives, and behavior in children. I did a Google search and found several links to articles about the study, some mentioning the Feingold Diet. It's quite the buzz.., and certainly has the food industry's attention.

Maybe this will trigger some consumer-driven improvements in our foods!!

I was thrilled when I heard it on the radio a couple of days ago, and am happy also to see so many articles on line. I just hope to see it in our local newspapers...

Jeff

[kim]

Jeff,

 

I had read that too, and posted it under the articles thread, but like so many of the links there, when I went back to copy it, it didn't work.

 

I think this is the article?

 

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1568

[Jeff]

Yes, that is one of many that I found about the study. Thanks for posting the link!

[Chemar]

a summary of the full article from The Lancet

 

Articles

 

 

Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

Donna McCann PhD a, Angelina Barrett BSc a, Alison Cooper MSc a, Debbie Crumpler BSc a, Lindy Dalen PhD a, Kate Grimshaw MSc b, Elizabeth Kitchin BSc a, Kris Lok MSc a, Lucy Porteous BSc a, Emily Prince MSc a, Prof Edmund Sonuga-Barke PhD a, Prof John O Warner MD c and Prof Jim Stevenson PhD a

Summary

Background

We undertook a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to test whether intake of artificial food colour and additives (AFCA) affected childhood behaviour.

 

Methods

153 3-year-old and 144 8/9-year-old children were included in the study. The challenge drink contained sodium benzoate and one of two AFCA mixes (A or or a placebo mix. The main outcome measure was a global hyperactivity aggregate (GHA), based on aggregated z-scores of observed behaviours and ratings by teachers and parents, plus, for 8/9-year-old children, a computerised test of attention. This clinical trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials (registration number ISRCTN74481308). Analysis was per protocol.

 

Findings

16 3-year-old children and 14 8/9-year-old children did not complete the study, for reasons unrelated to childhood behaviour. Mix A had a significantly adverse effect compared with placebo in GHA for all 3-year-old children (effect size 0·20 [95% CI 0·01–0·39], p=0·044) but not mix B versus placebo. This result persisted when analysis was restricted to 3-year-old children who consumed more than 85% of juice and had no missing data (0·32 [0·05–0·60], p=0·02). 8/9-year-old children showed a significantly adverse effect when given mix A (0·12 [0·02–0·23], p=0·023) or mix B (0·17 [0·07–0·28], p=0·001) when analysis was restricted to those children consuming at least 85% of drinks with no missing data.

 

Interpretation

Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.

 

Affiliations

 

a. School of Psychology, Department of Child Health, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

b. School of Medicine, Department of Child Health, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

c. Department of Paediatrics, Imperial College, London, UK

 

Correspondence to: Prof Jim Stevenson, School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

 

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/a...ract?isEOP=true