According to a research:

Since Red Bull, the first energy drink to hit the U.S. market, launched in 1997, the market has boomed, Griffiths says, now totaling at least $5.4 billion a year in the U.S. Hundreds of brands are available.



Although the FDA limits the caffeine contents of cola-type soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces, no such limit is required on energy drinks, Griffiths tells WebMD.



“Makers of so-called “energy” drinks generally market them as dietary supplements,” says Siobhan DeLancey, an FDA spokesperson. Dietary supplements are regulated differently than food. The FDA does not approve or review the products before they are marketed.

Source: Energy Drinks: Hazardous to Your Health?, Safety issues associated with energy drinks

ADHD and Diet

The first proponent that additives are dangerous and cause ADHD was Dr Feingold in the in the 1970’s. Backed by research he claimed that diet and adhd were linked and that if you cut out all colorings, hyperactivity went away. Later research found that the Feingold diet only helped 2% of children. However diet does seem play some part as it effects weight (see ADHD and Obesity) and diet can effect sleep patterns (see ADHD and Sleep Disorders). The current wisdom is that food additives are not dangerous but a bad diet full of fast food, sweets, fat and sugar, is dangerous and can amplify existing behavioral problems.

New Research on Additives and ADHD

The new research is a follow up to research from 2000 but only published in 2004. Researchers from the Isle of Wight in the UK looked at 277 three year old children who had been assessed for hyperactivity and atopy. The children’s diet was then changed so that for one week the children went without additives, then in random order, a week with added colorings, a week with added preservatives (sodium benzoate) and a week with a placebo. The children were assessed both by a research in a clinical setting and by their parents at home. Neither the researcher or the parents knew which order the children were receiving the additives, colorings or placebo.

When the results were analysed there were no detectable difference in the children’s behaviour when assessed by the researcher in the clinical setting. However the parent’s assessment found a significant reduction in hyperactivity in the week without additives and preservative plus an increase in hyperactivity in the week with the added preservatives.

The fact that this difference in behaviour was only notice by the parent’s is a warning sign that something might be problematic with the research. It might be that the criteria or the method of assessment being used was somehow biased or that it wasn’t sensitive enough to pick up behavioral changes in the clinical setting. It may be that parents are better judges of their own children’s behaviour or it could be that there was not difference and this is just a statistical anomaly. Without further research there was no way of telling.

Chemicals in Food

The UK’s Food Standards Agency Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) looked at this research. They conclued:

Published data suggest exclusion of specific dietary components can affect some measures of behaviour in some children. The researchers suggest that this study provides evidence that food additives had statistically significant effects on some measures of behaviour, irrespective of whether the children were atopic, hyperactive or neither. We acknowledge that the study is consistent with published reports of behavioural changes occurring in some children following consumption of particular food additives. We also note that the authors suggest that this may apply to children who are not considered to be hyperactive. However, we consider that it is not possible to reach firm conclusions about the clinical significance of the observed effects.

New research was funded to clarify the findings further and it was this new study that the Guardian was reporting on.

Are Food Additives Dangerous?

As with all good food scare stories in the media, the actual results of the study have not been published so facts cannot be checked. After the last study it took 4 years for the results to be published so don’t hold your breath. However the COT assessed the results on the 20th March and according to a member of the committee, quoted in the Guardian, the new results were the same the previous study.

Until the research is published and can be properly peer-reviewed it is impossible to say how safe or dangerous these food additives are. Until we do know, minimising children’s exposure to these additives though a healthy, balanced diet involving lots of fresh vegetables and fruit is the best advice available.

The Additives in Question

• Tartrazine (E102)
• Ponceau 4R (E124)
• Sunset Yellow (E110)
• Carmoisine (E122)
• Quinoline yellow (E104)
• Allura Red AC (E129)
• Sodium Benzoate (E211)

Sources:
Original Research: The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children
COT agenda and papers: 20 March 2007

The Durham trial is the largest experiment on omega-3 and dyslexia related reading problems. Not every is convinced by this experiment, spawning a satirical take on the Durham trials.

Fish oils rich in omega-3 have been reported to calm ADHD child in just 15 weeks. Other studies have similar benefits: ADHD and Omega Fish Oils.

Omega 3 & 6 can help more than dyslexia and ADHD. It has been linked to mental and physical health problems. After a mining accident Randal McCloy Jr. suffered CO2 poisoning and was left in coma. Large doses of omega-3 have been credited in his remarkable recovery.

Don’t know you EPA from your AA then read ALA to DHA: The Fish Oil Alphabet to learn how Omega-3 and Omega-6 are just the start of a complex process.

If you don’t fancy taking supplements but want to get your fatty acids through your everyday food then read The Omega-3 Diet. You may also want to read about the risks of eating fish high in omega-3.

A review of the book, The LCP Solution and the BBC TV’s flagship science program Horizon looked at fish oils and intelligence.

Recently VegEPA has been stealing the media limelight from EyeQ, the people behind the Durha, trial.

Are omega-3 & 6 supplement safe or do these fish oils have side effects.

The US National Institute of Health classifies low intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish as “Generally Regarded as Safe”. However they do highlight certain fish oil side effects that may trouble some people. The omega-3 in the fish oil may increase the risk of bleeding when taken in large doses. The bleeding can take the form of strokes, nosebleeds and blood in the urine. As the fish oils seem to decrease platelet aggregation, bleeding times may be longer.

A major worry with fish oils and the fish they are created from is poisoning from heavy metal and other pollutants. Mercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are found in some species of fish. However, mostly this fish oil side effect is associated with eating fish directly as the oil, even in contaminated fish, carries little of the pollutants.
Stomach upset are a common side effect of fish oil supplements. Diarrhea may also occur, with potentially severe diarrhea at very high doses. There are also reports of increased burping, acid reflux/heartburn/indigestion, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Fishy aftertaste is a common effect. Gastrointestinal side effects can be minimized if fish oils are taken with meals and if doses are started low and gradually increased.

People with low blood pressure or those taking blood-pressure reducing medicines should take care. One of the reported side effects of fish oil is a reduction of blood pressure. The impact on blood pressure appears to be dose dependent.

Vitamin E plays a part in metabolizing omega acids so large doses of fish oil place high demands on the body’s vitamin E supply. To avoid this fish oil side effect, vitamin E is added to many commercial fish oil products. As a result, regular use of vitamin E-enriched products may lead to elevated levels of this fat-soluble vitamin. Fish liver oil contains the fat-soluble vitamins A and D, and therefore fish liver oil products (such as cod liver oil) may increase the risk of vitamin A or D toxicity.

One side effect of fish oils and their fatty acids is an increase low-density lipoprotein levels (”bad cholesterol”) by 5-10%. This is dependent on the dose used. The oils have also been noted to have an effect on blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 / Adult Onset Diabetes but this is short-term and no long-term effects have been reported.

Overall omega-3 and 6 rich fish oils have few side effects and can be considered safe the vast majority of the population.

Source: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid from the NIH.
See also: The Omega-3 Diet, ALA to DHA: The Fish Oil Alphabet and The Incredible Brain: A Miner Recovered.

Then you might look at the outcomes measured. Behavioural outcomes, in a study of four children, with no control, and lots of extra attention for the subjects – including TV cameras pointing at them – are meaningless. “One boy who previously scorned books and was hooked on TV developed a love of reading and declared he was ‘bored’ with television” said the Daily Mail. I bet he did.

What is VegEPA and does it deserve the uncritical acclaim it has received?

According to the maker’s website each capsule contains 280mg of EPA, 100mg evening primrose oil and 1mg of vitamin E. They recommend children under the age of ten should take one capsule daily but older children and adults should take between four and eight VegEPA tablets. No further information is offered on how to decide how many tablets to take. The US National Institutes of Health recommends a daily intake of 650mg of EPA where as the World Health Organization and governmental health agencies of several countries recommend consuming 300mg – 500mg of EPA + DHA daily. So the VegEPA range for four to eight tables (1120mg – 2240mg) constitutes a high dosage of EPA.

The EPA, or Eicosapentaenoic Acid to give it is full name, in VegEPA is an omega 3 fatty acid. It is metabolized to produce hormone-like agents that play a part in cell division and growth, blood clotting, muscle activity, secretion of digestive juices and hormones, and movement of substances like calcium into and out of cells. However its role in the body is extremely complex so its very hard to clearly identify whether higher-dosages of EPA are beneficial.

One of the key selling points of VegEPA over rivals such EyeQ used in the Durham trials is that VegEPA contains no Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) despite DHA being an omega-6 fish oil that has been linked to similar health benefits as EPA. The problem with DHA is that it competes with EPA for bodily resources so too much DHA may impact on the body’s ability to process EPA. As the western diet already contains as much as 10 time more omega-6 than omega-3 there is no need to take supplemental EPA.

The big question is does VegEPA help dyslexics with reading, concentration and memory? Well Igennus Ltd, the makers, have references to lot of scientific papers on their web site but not one of them is about their product. Not a single peer-reviewed study uses the off-the-shelf product in a properly controlled trial that shows any benefit in reading, concentration or memory for dyslexics of those suffering from ADHD.

A better question is might VegEPA work? Maybe. The National Institute of Health say:

The quantity and strength of evidence for the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function and decline, dementia, and neurological diseases vary greatly. Given the overall small number of studies and generally poor quality of clinical trials, substantive conclusions about the value of these compounds for these conditions cannot be drawn.

VegEPA may work but you may as well just take normal omega-3 tablets. The simple answer is that we know that omega-3 is an important part of our diet but we don’t know how all the different bodily processes interact with it. There is no evidence that supplements of 200mg of EPA is better or worse that 2000mg for dyslexia and ADHD. It is £11.95 for 60 capsules (about 15 days worth) compared to £7.95 for 100 standard Omega-3 capules (about a month’s supply) . So going for VegEPA will cost you four times as much for something that is not clearly four times as good.

See: ALA to DHA: The Fish Oil Alphabet, ADHD and Omega Fish Oils, The Omega-3 Diet
References: NIH Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health

Parents in Nottingham are demanding that their children be given free Snake Oil in order to improve their examination results.
Snaik Oil, though not scientifically accepted as a ‘brain suplement’ or ‘food’, has long been associated with increased brain function in pub conversations and newspaper columns, a fact which parents are keen to see reflected in school spending.

In light of all this I thought it wise to make a clear statement to all my readers about why I devote a considerable amount of time and money to running Myomancy.

• The goal of Myomancy is to provide independent information on treatments for dyslexia, ADHD and autism so that parents and sufferers can make an informed choice about what is the best approach for them.
• Myomancy is a blog, a personal web site. It represents my views and my views alone on all things connected with ADHD, dyslexia and Autism.
• These views are researched and expressed on Myomancy to the best of my abilities but I am not a scientist, teacher or a professional writer. I am just someone who’s life was changed by the Dore Program and felt a need to express myself.
• I believe in free speech which is why I allow anyone to post comments on the articles regardless of whether they are for or against my views. Only post that are illegal or purely offensive are removed.
• Myomancy generates a small amount of income for advertising. I would like it to be more so that I can afford to spend more time on Myomancy. It is up to the reader to decide what, if any, impact that has on the independence of Myomancy.

With reference to the above I have removed one comment from the website that is highly critical of the Dore Program and, based on additional evidence I have at my disposal, is completely false.

Mary, a long time friend of Myomancy, dropped me a line recently about ADHD and diet with a link to information on enzymes and ADHD. Enyzmes act as a catalysts for the chemical reactions that drive our biology and each has a specific role to play. The article promotes the use of No-Fenol, an enzyme supplement that is typical of the type on the market.

When I looked at ADHD and diet, I found there was no evidence of a poor diet causing ADHD. The best advice I could find was to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. This won’t directly help with the ADHD but you will feel better and it helps to avoid weight problems (see ADHD and Obesity). However there was connection between omega-3 and ADHD . Supplements of fish oils did help some people on some specific tasks. Could enzyme supplements help ADHD in the same way?

The logic behind enzymes supplements is that by increasing the number of enzymes in the digestive system all the food you eat will be processed more efficiently. This will ensure that all the vitamins and minerals needed at picked up from our food. This presupposes that ADHD is caused by vitamin or mineral deficiencies, a position that is questionable.

Searching both Google Scholar and the maker of No-Fenol’s web site I can find no evidence to say that enzymes supplements help ADHD. In fact I can’t find a single piece of evidence that enzymes supplements can help with anything other highly specific medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis.

Diet and ADHD is an area that is rich in advice, supplements and books. Most of these are done with the best intentions but lack any direct evidence for their claims. Companies use science to show how Ingredient X helps with Vitamin Y that has been linked to Problem Z but that doesn’t mean the taking more X or Y will help with Z. Before taking any supplement its worth asking to see research showing that the specific product you are considering buying works on your problem. If they can’t then their claims are speculation at best.

See also:
The Omega-3 Diet
ALA to DHA: The Fish Oil Alphabet

According to the document Is Our Tuna “Family-Safe”? Mercury in America’s Favorite Fish [ PDF ] tins of fish from Ecuador, Mexico and Costa Rica had dangerously high mercury concentrations. It is worrying as people are being encouraged to eat more fish because of the benefits of omega 3. The whole tuna / mercury problem makes having a safe but effective omega 3 diet hard.

This study does not appeared to have peer-review and the document is more like a glossy sales brochure than a scientific study so please read with a suitably sized pinch of salt.

For more information on the tuna / mercury health risks, see The Omega 3 Diet.