Common food additives and colorings can increase hyperactive behavior in a broad range of children, a study being released Thursday found.
It was the first time researchers conclusively and scientifically confirmed a link that had long been suspected by many parents. Numerous support groups for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have for years recommended removing such ingredients from diets, although some experts differ.
The new research, which was financed by Britain’s Food Standards Agency, was published online by the British medical journal The Lancet.
The Lancet study focused on a variety of food colorings and on sodium benzoate, a common preservative. Researchers note that removing this preservative from food could cause problems by increasing spoilage.
The study’s authors noted that other research suggested the hyperactivity could increase in as little as an hour after additives were consumed.
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Items compiled from Tribune news services.
