Scientific Studies
From http://beepollennu.hypermart.net/adhd3.htmlBy Achieve Ace Ltd.</a>
P.O. Box 3232, Station B, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3A 5G9
In 1994 researchers in Australia reported the effects of yellow dye on hyperactive children in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Two hundred suspected hyperactive children participated in an open study where all artificial colors were eliminated from their diets for 6 weeks. One-hundred and fifty parents reported behavioral improvements in their children. Then 23 "suspected reactors" participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effects of tartrazine (yellow dye #6). Twenty-one of these children clearly reacted to the yellow dye when it was administered in capsules but did not react to identically appearing capsules without dye. Behavioral changes associated with the intake of the yellow dye included:
The more dye the children ingested the longer the reaction lasted. Younger children, ages 2 to 6, experienced "constant crying, tantrums, irritability, restlessness, and severe sleep disturbances." The older children, ages 7 to 14, were "irritable, aimlessly active, lacked self-control, whiny and unhappy."
Although other dyes were not studied, the effects are probably similar as they are chemically derived from coal tars and have related chemical structures.
Interestingly, all reactors had allergies of one kind oranother -- asthma, eczema, and/or allergic runny nose. They also had positive skin tests for one or more of 8 common allergens. Almost all had a close family history of migraine headache.
So a trial of a no-color added diet may be really important in determining why your child is overactive, impulsive and inattentive. Start reading labels on every food you buy. Avoid a food if the label lists one or more of the following: U.S Certified Colors, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5 (tartrazine), FD&C Yellow #6 (sunset yellow), FD&C Blue #1 and #2 and FD&C Green #3. You may be surprised where you find these colors -- even one brand of white icing has red dye added to make it look whiter! Baked goods may have yellow dye added so you'll think it contains egg yolks. Natural dyes that are not chemically related should be okay -- tumeric, beet powder and annatto. Some people are allergic to carmine, a natural color.