Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Scientists and pediatricians differ in position on ADHD eating habits

Is it possible the foods children eat could possibly be triggering for ADHD? A correlation among eating habits and ADHD was suggested by a recently available study. However the study’s conclusions are being disputed by pediatricians who don’t agree that diet ought to be included in the treatment of ADHD. Resource for this article – Pediatricians dispute results claimed by Dutch ADHD diet study by Newsytype.com.

What was shown by the ADHD diet research

An elimination diet could be an effective tool in the treatment of ADHD, in accordance with a study published in The Lancet on Thursday. Dutch scientists concluded that a diet eliminating foods commonly associated with food allergies decreased ADHD conditions in 64 percent of the children in the study. In the ADHD eating habits, there is rice, white meat and veggies. Over the five weeks of the research, 41 kids got the diet change. An enhancement in ADHD symptoms was evident in 32 of them. In the second phase of the research, the kids were fed what are assumed to be ADHD trigger foods and most of them relapsed. A control group of 50 kids ate a standard healthy eating habits and no reduction in hyperactivity was noted.

Pediatricians add their dose of reality

Scientists believe that when treating kids for ADHD, it can be good to use an elimination diet considering the ADHD eating habits research. Pediatricians don't tend to like the idea of the diet though. Children might end up with nutritional deficiencies if they’re on an ADHD diet. Pediatricians think that the improvements shown were likely allergy related as children with allergies show ADHD behavior often. Other pediatricians questioned the methodology of the ADHD research, which had no independent observers.

ADHD correlation to allergies

Many think that ADHD can be triggered by processed foods with lots of sugar. There is not any proof for that though, the National Institute of Mental Health explained. Generally, when a child has an allergy, it means that asthma, and skin rashes, diarrhea or other things will show the impact is taking place. One belief is that rather than showing those reactions, a child can have a brain chemistry issue due to an allergy to food. However, since the Dutch research only lasted five weeks, it couldn’t definitively answer those questions or specify which foods ought to be avoided. The individual child is taken into account when it comes to "standard" care for ADHD though.

Information from

CNN

pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/03/does-adhd-come-from-foods/?npt=NP1

ABC News

abcnews.go.com/Health/Allergies/adhd-food-allergy-case-restricting-diet/story?id=12832958&page=3

Business Week

businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/649603.html



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