Food Additives — Do They Cause Hyperactivity?

This study supports a link between food additives in the diet and hyperactive behavior.

Concerns that artificial food colors and additives cause hyperactivity have existed for decades. In a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, U.K. investigators randomly assigned 153 children aged 3 years and 144 children aged 8 to 9 to receive two different fruit drinks containing additives (mix A and mix B) and a placebo drink for 1 week each. Both mixes contained sodium benzoate preservative (45 mg); the kinds and amounts of food coloring differed in the two mixes. Younger children received 300 mL per day, and older children received 625 mL per day.

A single measure of hyperactive behavior was based on weekly parent and teacher ratings and a computerized test of attention in the older children. Compared with placebo, mix…

Reviewing Author

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)

Howard Bauchner, MD

Disclosures

Grant / research supportHuman Resources and Services Administration; NIH; NIH-NHLBI; USDA; GlaxoSmithKline

Editorial boardsArchives of Disease in Childhood (Editor-in-Chief)