Meta-Analysis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Restriction Diet, and Synthetic Food Color Additives (2012)

Peer-Reviewed Study · Nigg JT, Lewis K, Edinger T, Falk M · January 2012

The meta-analysis found a small restriction-diet effect and small food-color effects that varied by informant, study quality, and publication-bias adjustment. Parent-reported food-color g was 0.18 and fell to 0.12 after adjustment; overall teacher/observer g was a nonsignificant 0.07.

Restriction diets reduced ADHD symptoms at an effect of g = 0.29 (95% CI, 0.07–0.53).

The meta-analysis found a small restriction-diet effect and small food-color effects that varied by informant, study quality, and publication-bias adjustment. Parent-reported food-color g was 0.18 and fell to 0.12 after adjustment; overall teacher/observer g was a nonsignificant 0.07. Effects were not reliable in studies confined to FDA-approved colors. The authors estimated the diet effect at roughly one-third of a summary medication effect of 0.9. Funding included ILSI North America and partial support from the National Confectioners Association.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov 3. Know who you're voting for: your values vs. their record, with sources.Build my Vote Card →