ADHD expert, Dr. Billy Levin, debunks the Feingold Additive Free Diet and other diets as a treatment for ADHD.

Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is an inherited neurological condition that presents as either a learning problem or a behaviour problem or both in varying degrees from mild to very severe. It is found more in boys than in girls, is often overlooked especially in girls who present with fewer behaviour problems. If undiagnosed it can, for some, have major repercussion in later life. It is unrelated to I.Q. or social status.

Medical science has clearly established criteria for diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and there is very little controversy among experts internationally. However because most experts suggest that stimulant medication, like Ritalin and Ritaphen be prescribed, to make the child more teachable, many non-experts feel too much medication is being prescribed. Some go even further and suggest the ADHD medication is harmful or even habit-forming. The media overplay this scenario with journalistic sensationalism with little regard for the truth or the harm caused by misinformation. This situation has reached such proportions that it prompted eighty one fully fledged university appointed professors from all over the world to sign a petition objecting to this misinformation frightening patients away from correct medical treatment for ADHD which is absolutely safe and very effective if correctly used.

There is more misinformation about the cause and the treatment of ADHD than any other medical condition known to man. One wonders why this is so. On the other hand, if this is true, it can only lead to confusion, consternation and to the detriment of the people who really need help. Yet there are very loud voices claiming their point of view even without proof or substantiated research. Does vested interest and profit play a role? I am sure it does. This makes factual information all the more important for the misinformed. Gullible parents, afraid of medical treatment turn very readily to any other form of treatment irrespective of whether it works or not.

The Feingold Addictive Free Diet and Other Phony Diets for ADHD

Many years ago, an American allergist named Ben Feingold claimed he had researched that diet played a role in causing ADHD and developed the "Feingold Additive Free" diet which became very popular, especially as it offered an alternative to the stimulant medications like Ritalin. Professor Renshaw of Loyola University, Chicago, challenged him to publish his research and findings in a medical journal, and allow a peer review of his work. He never did. All his publications were in "glossy" layman's magazines. Yet research done at various University clinics to duplicate his research and conclusions could not be shown to have any value. If this diet was followed very strictly malnutrition could result.

A very underhand research project, but nevertheless very significant, requested parents whose children who were on an exclusion diet for ADHD to submit these children for research. Unknown to the parents, the children were given capsules containing the very substances the parents were excluding in the child's diet. No parent noticed any change or worsening of their child's behaviour. The parents thought diet played a role. Science showed it did not!

A nutritional /vitamin supplement for ADHD, marketed in South Africa, was researched by a Homeopathic student for his Masters degree at the Techincon, Johannesburg. He suggested it helped for concentration but could not be shown to help hyperactivity. The psychologist, who supervised this dissertation, in a personal discussion with me, could not see any statistical evidence to suggest it had any value. In my own practice, 50 consecutive referrals to me for ADHD who were on this product, did not respond whatsoever. The parents stated categorically it did not work and the treatment was stopped. They all responded very well to monitored titrated stimulant medication. The feedback was from the parents, teachers and child.

A product was advertised in the "Sunday Times" paper for hyperactivity. I e-mailed their website for proof and research. They replied that research in Nicaragua in 1990 was done. The only research in this fourth world country was done by Americans about the poor nutritional status of many of their children. No research was published on ADHD according to the research journal from the American Psychological society.

In a 'glossy' South African magazine an advert appeared for a herbal product for ADHD and in particular it was stated that Ritalin a habit forming Amphetamine drug should not be used. The Advertising Standards Bureau are investigating this situation at the moment. Ritalin is not habit forming, is not an amphetamine and is not a dangerous drug.

In the South African "Medical Chronical" journal some time ago an article, by Dr. Steven Parker from Boston University School of Medicine, suggested the diet factor for hyperactive kids was "mostly hooey". Double blind controlled studies from pooled data showed less than 1% improved on the diet, yet parents in non-controlled studies thought 40% improved. The power of suggestion?