title: Artificial food colouring and hyperactivity symptoms in children.
abstract: (1) A hypothesis has been proposed that artificial food colourings have a role in exacerbating hyperactive behavior in children; (2) A placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical study in 297 children representative of the general population showed higher hyperactivity scores during the periods when they were ingesting food colourings; (3) A meta-analysis of 15 double-blind clinical trials that evaluated artificial food colouring in children already considered to be hyperactive showed an increase in their hyperactive behavior; (4) In practice, even though the mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not be elucidated, these data suggest that it is best to avoid exposing children to artificial food coloring.
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005503:Food Additives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D009043:Motor Activity
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D005505:Food Coloring Agents