Artificial Dyes Affecting ADHD

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2 December 2012 FN 50_ FUND Professor J. Demarchi Artificial Food Additives and Dyes Affecting ADHD In Robin B. Kanarek’s article “Artificial Food Dyes And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,” she addresses the controversial issue with regards to diet and ADHD and the possible role of food additives/dyes in the development of the disorder. Kanarek is with the Department of Psychology, at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts (385). She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in psychology from Rutgers University. I believe she is qualified to write this article—based on her educational background, her current position at Tufts University, as well as her personal interest in the area of nutrition and behavior. In order to make…show more content…
These drugs are effective in the enhancement of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. The fact that 70-90% of the children diagnosed with ADHD have a positive response explains why these drugs are prescribed. However, regardless of the efficacy, there are also undesirable side effects such as decreased appetite, weight loss, decreased growth rates, stomach aches, sleep problems and sleep disturbances (386). Another problem with stimulant medications, there has be reports of substance abuse. The drugs along with behavioral therapy have been successfully treating ADHD children, adolescents and adults; however, because of the above mentioned adverse reactions, parents and children are sometimes unwilling to use them…show more content…
The third viewpoint is from the United Kingdom found that the adverse effects of food dyes on symptoms of ADHD were moderated by histamine degradation gene (HNMT). And food additives can trigger histamine release and the HNMT can impair the histamine clearance (389). The author’s purpose in writing of this article was to address the role that food additives and artificial dye in ADHD. There was research done by Dr. Benjamin Feingold in the 1970’s that did not provide enough convincing evidence. More rigorous empirical studies were done over the last twenty years and they were still not conclusive. It is the recent studies done in 2009 by the U.K. that has conclusive evidence regarding the histamine release caused by food additives and dye. The author’s purpose for this article is to address the fact that the British government has requested that the food manufacturers remove most artificial dyes from their products.

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