Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 25(6):423-434, DECEMBER 2004
PMID: 15613992
Issn Print: 0196-206X
Publication Date: December 2004
Do Artificial Food Colors Promote Hyperactivity in Children with Hyperactive Syndromes? A Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials
DAVID SCHAB;NHI-HA TRINH;
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1Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry & The New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York2Harvard University, MGH/McLean Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts
Abstract
Burgeoning estimates of the prevalence of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) raise the possibility of a widespread risk factor. We seek to assess whether artificial food colorings (AFCs) contribute to the behavioral symptomatology of hyperactive syndromes. We searched ten electronic databases for double-blind placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effects of AFCs. Fifteen trials met the primary inclusion criteria. Meta-analytic modeling determined the overall effect size of AFCs on hyperactivity to be 0.283 (95% CI, 0.079 to 0.488), falling to 0.210 (95% CI, 0.007 to 0.414) when the smallest and lowest quality trials were excluded. Trials screening for responsiveness before enrollment demonstrated the greatest effects. Despite indications of publication bias and other limitations, this study is consistent with accumulating evidence that neurobehavioral toxicity may characterize a variety of widely distributed chemicals. Improvement in the identification of responders is required before strong clinical recommendations can be made.
