Food Allergy and ADHD

ADHD can be understood as a symptom of a food-driven hypersensitivity disease. Many children with ADHD will have symptoms and signs of delayed pattern food allergy. We are not talking about common allergy, diagnosed by skin tests. We are talking about delayed patterns of food allergy which cannot be detected by tests.

Bobner et al reviewed studies linking nutritional disorders with behavioral and learning problems in children. In their introduction they state: "MIllions of dollars are spent annually on special education programs for children whose behavior prevent them from participating in the regular school setting despite average or above average intellectual capacity. A growing body of research indicates that some of these behavioral disorders are related to nutritional problems."

Many factors are considered in the literature including nutrient deficiencies, toxic heavy metals and food allergy. A correlation between physical symptoms such as chronic rhinitis and recurrent otitis media and learning-behavioral problems suggests that food allergy may underlie learning disabilities. Increasing numbers of children who are aggressive with antisocial behavior, and serious mood swings concern us. Sick children who behave badly create a ripple effect of disturbances in their families, neighborhoods and classrooms.

Egger et al published studies showing the effect of foods on migraine headaches, epilepsy, and hyperactivity in children, has stated: "Taken together, the available research suggests that different types of adverse food reactions correlate with neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The diversity of foods involved...is suggestive of allergy, and the adverse effects may correlate with immunological abnormalities."

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This descriptive term refers to restless, distractible children who have a knack for disrupting any environment that tries to enclose and control them. Many physicians have described diet revision treatment for children's' behavioral and learning problems. Egger remarked: "A role for food allergy in the hyperkinetic syndrome has been postulated since early this century."

The Physical Symptoms

The most common symptoms are allergic shiners (dark circles under the eyes) and stuffy nose. ADHD kids tend to have histories of nose congestion, recurrent middle-ear infections, and sleep disturbances, starting in infancy. Some have more specific allergic problems such as eczema, hives, and asthma but most have non-specific symptoms that do not fit the familiar patterns of allergy. Digestive disturbances are common but may be episodic with long normal periods - bouts of gas, distention, pain lead the list - some children have bouts of diarrhea others tend to be constipated. Some have headaches and many have leg pains often at night. Often parents will state that the child has recurring colds or flu and are prescribed antibiotics too frequently.

The Problems at School

The school profile of children with delayed pattern food allergies, involves a typical set of learning and behavioral problems. Teachers observe inattention, fluctuating performance, restlessness, distractibility, or aggressive behaviors, or remark on the quiet, withdrawn, disinterested nature of the child. Often the child is criticized for laziness or attention seeking, or the parents are blamed for undisciplined behavior. Psychological evaluation often reveals average to above-average intelligence with attention deficits. Some will appear clumsy, with awkward handwriting which varies from day to day, often appearing disorganized or tremulous. The more seriously afflicted children will fail to learn properly and will require assessment for learning disability and some form of remediation. If the behavioral aberrance is marked, they may be referred to school psychologists or psychiatrists. Difficulties in learning language skills top the list of learning problems and the diagnosis of dyslexia is often made. The irritable, restless child is considered "hyperactive" and may be disruptive in the classroom.

Proper Diet Revision

All of these symptoms may remit surprisingly and dramatically when food selection is changed. The details of a successful food plan vary from individual to individual. The most globally successful diet revision in all these illnesses involves complete revision of the problematic diet.

1. Selective "elimination diets" tend not to work.
2. There are no tests for this type of food allergy.
3. The proper technique of diet revision therapy is designed to solve simultaneous problems in the child's food supply.

Consideration is given to

• minimizing exposure to junk food and food additives,
• choosing nourishing, primary, low allergenic foods as dietary staples,
• assuring nutrient adequacy by careful monitoring of the child's food intake.

The Alpha Nutrition Program is a comprehensive method of diet revision.

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