Can ADHD Be Controlled By a Change in Diet?

The CDC reported late last year that 15.5 million adults had an ADHD diagnosis in 2023. In other words, roughly 6 percent of all adults, or one in 16. Along with that alarming figure, 3.5 million children currently take medication to treat ADHD, which means 69 percent of all children in the United States have been diagnosed with the hallmark signs of ADHD, which are hyperactivity and impulsiveness. What is going on? Despite being quite hopeful today that meaningful efforts focused on our nation’s kids are before us, the decades-long lack of care is heartbreaking. Signs of government agencies looking the other way for the sake of profit at the expense of our children are everywhere. A 1999 article in the NY Times (no longer online) titled “Diet Change May Avert Need for Ritalin” proclaimed:

“A new report, released last week, reviews 23 of the best studies conducted since the mid-1970s and public statements from the Food and Drug Administration, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the International Food Information Council, and the American Council on Science and Health, among others. It concludes that the evidence strongly indicates that for some children, behavioral disorders are caused or aggravated by certain food additives, artificial food colors, the foods themselves, or a combination.

In 17 of the 23 studies, behavioral improvements were noted when the children’s diets were modified. Eleven other studies, ones that were not as well designed, showed even greater improvements on restricted diets.”

The objective of the 1999 analysis, which was conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), was to take a hard look at studies that explored various dietary factors associated with ADHD. CSPI also sought to dig into why health authorities repeatedly insisted that there is little or no evidence to support a relationship between diet and ADHD. One can imagine their shock when they realized the extensive improvements in ADHD when attention was given to a restrictive diet.

It is well known that government agencies spend neverending millions on research—why haven’t they stressed the importance of diet related to ADHD? After all, food is the fuel that makes our bodies function, and toxic food additives, artificial colors, sugars, and so on can undoubtedly either positively or negatively influence that process. The NYT article noted that following CSPI’s investigation in 1999, the group urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to advise health professionals and parents of children diagnosed with ADHD to try changing their diets before placing them on dangerous stimulant drugs like Ritalin and methamphetamines.

Why are they dangerous? Besides the obvious, these potent drugs suppress the appetite, cause weight loss, insomnia, and stomach issues, and can even provoke tics. Incredibly, the group also expressed concern that a laboratory study found that, when given doses of Ritalin similar to what was given to children, an increase in liver tumors was seen in mice. In addition to appealing to HHS to first focus on diet when caring for children with ADHD, CSPI also asked the department to commission “new and better” studies on the relationship between diet and behavior in children. Beyond that, they asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to demand behavioral tests for certain food additives.

A quick look today into whether the FDA has conducted the tests urged by CSPI reveals a careless pattern of, you guessed it—their declaration that more research is needed. For example, one such incident of the agency’s wasteful-spending rebuttal occurred in 2011 (ten years after CSPI’s urging) when the FDA’s Food Advisory Committee (FAC) convened to consider the link between synthetic food colors and behavioral effects in children. The FAC concluded that a causal link between children’s consumption of artificial color additives and behavioral problems had not been established. The group asserted:

“However, the FAC recommended further research to investigate potential developmental and neurotoxic effects in children from exposure to these substances and a comprehensive exposure assessment for these color additives.”

The same question persists. Why have the agencies delegated to keep Americans healthy repeatedly chosen to—for decades— sidestep conclusive studies on the real dangers of toxic food additives and ultra-processed foods while downplaying the vital role a healthy, nutritious diet plays in our young kids? Way back in 1999, CSPI officially alerted government healthcare agencies of the substances most often linked to worsening ADHD symptoms. The group noted that they include artificial colors and flavors, foods that naturally contain salicylates, like apricots, berries, and tomatoes, sucrose, aspartame, and foods that sometimes cause allergic reactions, like milk, wheat, and corn. They added that some children may also react to chocolate.

Kudos to CSPI for advocating for healthy food choices and against swiftly prescribing drugs for our children. What is the group’s take today on the topics plaguing health? That investigation is for another day. Nonetheless, considering that the “trending” topic on CSPI’s website declares, “Trump administration firing of thousands of health agency employees will undermine food safety,” and that the group still has a link up to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies, it might be worth exploring.

As is the case in today’s largely contaminated food supply, it is essential to know where your food comes from, buy local and organic whenever possible, and, of course, read labels. CSPI noted in 1999 that parents—and children when they are old enough—must become “compulsive label readers” to avoid the offending foods. Indeed, words of wisdom from 26 years ago. Presently, as we embrace the bright light of hope beaming from the reformation dawning within our government health agencies, it seems fitting to share the words of one perceptive 11-year-old who voiced in 1999 the importance of being aware of how foods can impact behavior. He shared:

“I would rather be different because of what I eat than because of how I behave.”