Assessment of chemical factors in relation to child hyperactivity.

Assessment of chemical factors in relation to child hyperactivity.

Author: Ward NI
ICP-MS Facility, Dep. Chem., Univ. Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH, UK.

A questionnaire evaluation of 486 hyperactive children (HA) (82% boys, aged 7-13 years and 18% girls, aged 8-13 years) showed that more than 60% of cases reported a positive behavioural response (i.e. increased problems) in relation to consuming or being exposed to synthetic colourings and flavourings, food and beverage preservatives, cow's milk and associated products, chemical detergents and perfume. In contrast, 172 sex- and age-matched control children (C) reported only 12% of cases responding to synthetic colourings and flavourings and chemical solvents. The main health problems reported by the 96% of hyperactive children affected by synthetic colourings and flavourings were persistent thirst problems, the development of eczema, ear and/or chest infections, and the production of excessive amounts of catarrh. Trace element measurements undertaken by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that a low zinc and iron status is associated with hyperactive children when compared with control children for blood serum, urine and washed scalp hair (HA < C). In many cases, hyperactive children also had very highly significant raised levels of aluminium, cadmium and/or lead (HA > C), particularly in urine and washed scalp hair samples. Hyperactive children with a known behavioural response following the consumption of a beverage containing tartrazine, E102 (n = 23), sunset yellow, E110 (n = 12) and amaranth, E123 (n = 12) were given a dose of chemical food colour (50 mg) and their zinc levels (blood serum and urine) and behavioural activity were monitored for 120 min. A sex- and age-matched control group was also studied. Only hyperactive children showed a significant reduction in blood serum zinc levels and an increase in urinary zinc output following the consumption of E102 and E110. Amaranth had no effect on their zinc status over the study time period. There were no significant changes in the zinc levels for control children for all three chemical food colours. The main behavioural changes were observed in the hyperactive children given E102 and E110. For the 23 children who consumed a tartrazine beverage there were increased levels of overactivity (n = 18 children), aggressive (n = 16) and/or violent (n = 4) activity, poor speech (n = 2), poor coordination (n = 12), and the development of asthma and/or eczema (n = 8). Most of these were severe or moderate changes. Only one control child showed minor behavioural responses to tartrazine.

Source : JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL & ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE (ABINGDON); 7 (4). 1997. 333-342.
(I will continue to look for an online source of the full text)

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The influence of the chemical additive tartrazine on the zinc status of hyperactive children: A double-blind placebo-controlled study.

The influence of the chemical additive tartrazine on the zinc status of hyperactive children: A double-blind placebo-controlled study.

AUTHORS:	WARD NI; SOULSBURY KA; ZETTEL VH; COLQUHOUN ID; BUNDAY S; BARNES B

Dep. Chem., Univ. Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, UK

Twenty hyperactive male children were assessed for zinc status and compared with 20 age-matched controls, and a double-blind placebo-controlled study of the effect of the chemical additive tartrazine (E102) on the zinc status of 10 hyperactive males versus 10 age-matched controls is reported. Analysis of tartrazine in commercial orange beverages was performed by high performance liquid chromatography using a reverse-phase ion-pair system. The influence of tartrazine upon zinc status of blood sera, washed scalp hair, urine, saliva and fingernails of hyperactive and control children is assessed. Zinc measurements were undertaken by inductively-coupled plasma-source mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The tartrazine content of various commercial orange beverages ranged from 0.58-4.16 mug ml-1. Low zinc status is associated with the hyperactive compared with control for urine (p < 0.001), scalp hair (p < 0.001), serum (p < 0.01), 24-hour urine (p < 0.01) and fingernails (p < 0.01). Saliva showed no statistically significant difference. Tartrazine induces a reduction in serum and saliva zinc concentrations and an increase in urinary zinc content with a corresponding deterioration in behaviour/emotional responses of the hyperactive children but not the controls. SOURCE: J NUTR MED; 1 (1). 1990. 51-58.  (I will continue to attempt to find the full text online)

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Controlled Trial of Oligoantigenic Treatment in the Hyperkinetic Syndrome

Controlled Trial of Oligoantigenic Treatment in the Hyperkinetic Syndrome

Authors: Egger J, Carter CM, Graham PJ, Gumley D, Soothill JF

Abstract

76 selected overactive children were treated with an oligoantigenic diet, 62 improved, and a normal range of behaviour was achieved in 21 of these. Other symptoms, such as headaches, abdominal pain, and fits, also often improved. 28 of the children who improved completed a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial in which foods thought to provoke symptoms were reintroduced. Symptoms returned or were exacerbated much more often when patients were on active material than on placebo. 48 foods were incriminated. Artificial colorants (Yellow No. 5) and preservatives were the commonest provoking substances, but no child was sensitive to these alone. 

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Synthetic Food Coloring and Behavior: A Dose Response Effect in a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Repeated-Measures Study

Synthetic Food Coloring and Behavior: A Dose Response Effect in a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Repeated-Measures Study

Authors: Rowe KS, Rowe KJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To establish whether there is an association between the ingestion of synthetic food colorings and behavioral change in children referred for assessment of "hyperactivity."

PARTICIPANTS:

From approximately 800 children referred to the Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne) for assessment of suspected hyperactivity, 200 were included in a 6-week open trial of a diet free of synthetic food coloring. The parents of 150 children reported behavioral improvement with the diet, and deterioration on the introduction of foods noted to contain synthetic coloring. A 30-item behavioral rating inventory was devised from an examination of the clinical histories of 50 suspected reactors. Thirty-four other children (23 suspected reactors, 11 uncertain reactors) and 20 control subjects, aged 2 to 14 years, were studied.

DESIGN:

A 21-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, repeated-measures study used each child as his or her own control. Placebo, or one of six dose levels of tartrazine (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 mg), was administered randomly each morning, and behavioral ratings were recorded by parents at the end of each 24 hours.

RESULTS:

The study identified 24 children as clear reactors (19 of 23 "suspected reactors," 3 of 11 "uncertain reactors," and 2 of 20 "control subjects"). They were irritable and restless and had sleep disturbance. Significant reactions were observed at all six dose levels. A dose response effect was obtained. With a dose increase greater than 10 mg, the duration of effect was prolonged.

CONCLUSION:

Behavioral changes in irritability, restlessness, and sleep disturbance are associated with the ingestion of tartrazine in some children. A dose response effect was observed.

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Reproductive and neurobehavioral effects of Sunset Yellow FCF administered to mice in their diet.

Reproductive and neurobehavioral effects of Sunset Yellow FCF administered to mice in their diet.


Author: Tanaka T
Department of Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health, Japan.

Abstract

Selected reproductive and neurobehavioral parameters were measured in mice given the color additive Sunset Yellow FCF in the diet. The additive was given at levels of 0 (control), 0.15, 0.30, and 0.60%, from five weeks of age in the F0 generation to nine weeks of age in the F1 generation. There were few adverse effects on litter size, weight, or sex ratio. Average body weight of offspring during the late lactation period was significantly increased in the low- and middle-dose groups of each sex. In the neurobehavioral parameters, swimming direction was significantly affected in a dose-related manner in male and female offspring during the early lactation period. Also in the early lactation period, surface righting and negative geotaxis were significantly affected in male offspring in the middle-dose group, and swimming head angle was significantly affected in female offspring in a dose-related manner. The dose levels of Sunset Yellow FCF in this study did produce some adverse effects in reproductive and neurobehavioral parameters.

(Again my source for the full text has vanished it's as if Tanaka's studies are disappearing I will find a source and update as soon as possible)

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Immumological aspects of the common food colorants, amaranth and tartrazine.

Immumological aspects of the common food colorants, amaranth and tartrazine.


Authors: Koutsogeorgopoulou L, Maravelias C, Methenitou G, Koutselinis A
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.

Abstract

We describe a sensitive and reproducible microassay model using human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) for discrimination between the cytotoxic and immunosuppressive effects of food colorants such as amaranth and tartrazine. The cytotoxic effects of a wide range of concentrations of these substances were studied on human PBL by the colorimetric in vitro cytotoxicity assays, neutral red uptake (NR) and thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The immunotoxic properties of these 2 substances were determined by a [3H]-thymidine DNA incorporation assay on phytohemagglutinin stimulated or non-stimulated lymphocytes, as well as by a Cr51 release Natural Killer assays. The results showed clear immunosuppressive effects from the 2 substances tested, although the concentrations chosen for this study proved to be non-cytotoxic by NR and MTT cytotoxic endpoints.

(Unfortunately the source for the full text I had is no longer valid I will continue to search for a new one and update this as soon as I can)

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Reproductive and neurobehavioural toxicity study of tartrazine administered to mice in the diet.

Reproductive and neurobehavioural toxicity study of tartrazine administered to mice in the diet.

Author: Tanaka T
Department of Environmental Health and Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1, Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan. t-tanaka@poohlover.net


"Tartrazine was given in the diet . . . and selected reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. In movement activity of exploratory behaviour in the F(0) generation, number of vertical activity was significantly increased...The average body weight . . .was significantly increased . . . In behavioural developmental parameters, surface righting . . . was significantly accelerated . . . Cliff avoidance at PND 7 was significantly accelerated . . . Negative geotaxis at PND 4 was significantly delayed . . . number of movement showed a significant tendency to be affected . . . Nevertheless, . . . the actual dietary intake of tartrazine is presumed to be much lower. It would therefore appear that the levels of actual dietary intake of tartrazine is unlikely to produce any adverse effects in humans."

I have to say the fact that Tanaka decided there would be no adverse effects in humans despite what happened 
to the mice due to the fact that people would simply eat less is absurd. Tanaka has done some great studies in the past as is this one his conclusion however is well..... Ignorant.

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Systemic Absorption of Food Dye in Patients with Sepsis

Systemic Absorption of Food Dye in Patients with Sepsis

Authors: Maloney JP, Halbower AC, Fouty BF, Fagan KA, Balasubramaniam V, Pike AW, Fennessey PV, Moss M


" Autopsies of both patients revealed green or blue discoloration of the skin and internal organs, without gastrointestinal perforation. . . Blue dye no. 1, . . . reduces oxygen consumption by a factor of eight in mitochondrial preparations in vitro. . . . Although both patients had serious underlying illnesses, their condition was improving before they received the dye and turned color. . . .We encourage judicious use of this food dye in patients with sepsis or other illnesses associated with increased gastrointestinal permeability. " 


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Green colon: an unusual appearance at autopsy.

Green colon: an unusual appearance at autopsy.

Authors: Boutilier RG, Murray SK, Walley VM
Division of Anatomical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.


"Following ingestion of the water-soluble dye, it is apparently concentrated in the colon, the site of water reabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract. The concentration in the large bowel wall likely varies, depending on the amount administered. In any circumstance, it appears that the clinical use of this dye has a pathologic correlate at autopsy. "


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Blue colon at autopsy - Blue No. 1

Blue colon at autopsy.

Authors: Granville LA, Finch C

"FD&C Blue No. 1 was hypothesized to have caused refractory hypotension and metabolic acidosis in 2 patients who died. The Food and Drug Administration approved the blue food coloring based on experiments performed on healthy animals, which demonstrated the dye to be nonabsorbable. Now there are case reports of humans in which the dye may have been absorbed."



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