Chemical Mixtures as Triggers for ADHD

It has already been noted that maternal tobacco and marijuana smoking are causative agents for ADHD symptomology. 1617 Tobacco and marijuana smoke are very complex chemical mixtures containing more than 4000 different chemicals. The ADHD causative agents in these are unknown. Xenobiotic chemicals contained in foods, however, are fewer in number, more easily identified, and have been tested as agents that induce the symptoms of ADHD. 

The position taken here is that published by Weiss and Schnoll et alj29,3°l that is, that the three points of Feingold s hypothesis are supported by experiments that meet the criteria for scientific validity. These are 

Many children who are diagnosed as hyperactive improve when put a diet devoid of artificial food colors, artificial flavors, and synthetic preservatives. 

Some children become hyperactive, at least in the short term, following the ingestion of artificial food dyes. 

Younger children are seemingly more sensitive to artificial food colors, artificial flavorants, and synthetic preservatives than older ones. 

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