The Role of Salicylate in ADD/ADHD

The role of salicylate (aspirin-containing) foods in hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD) in children was first put forward by Dr Ben Feingold. He claimed dramatic results from a diet free of these foods.

Feingold diet 1: Foods Containing Salicylates

All fresh meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, cereals & bread are low in salicylates.

Feingold later improved the diet by eliminating food additives and colourings (the notorious yellow-orange dye tartrazine is related to salicylates). This gives better results.

FEINGOLD DIET 2: Common Dyes And Benzoates

• E102
• Tartrazine.
• E107
• Yellow 2G.
• E110
• Sunset Yellow – cordials, custard.
• E123
• Amaranth.
• E124
• Ponceau 4R – red berry & cherry flavours, jellies.
• E151
• Brilliant Black – black currant flavours, sauces.
• E155
• Brown HT – chocolate flavourings, sauces.
• E210, 211, 212, 213
• Benzoates (preservatives) – fruit juices, drinks.
• E220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 228
• Sulphites (preservatives and bleaches) – wines, sausages, fruit juices, flours, pickles.
• E310, 311, 312
• Gallates (antioxidants) – oils and fats.

Try the salicylate/colorings-free experiment on your child if you feel like it. However, I think Feingold’s approach is over-rated. Some children do improve. But many ordinary foods are capable of causing brain allergy and hence hyperactivity. It is restrictive to confine the evaluation to chemical targets only. A much sounder approach is to follow the full elimination/challenge program given earlier in this blog.

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