Food additives and behavior in 8- to 9-year-old children in Hong Kong: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To test the individual effect of artificial food colorings (AFCs) and a preservative on the behavior of the general Chinese population.


METHODS
One hundred thirty children (70 boys and 60 girls) in Hong Kong with a mean age of 8.64 years were enlisted to the study with a within-subject crossover between AFCs, a preservative (sodium benzoate), and a placebo capsule. Two behavior scores were used including the strengths and weaknesses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and normal behavior rating scale and the child behavior checklist-teacher report form.


RESULTS
Capsule A containing AFCs and Capsule B containing sodium benzoate had no significant adverse effect compared with placebo in both behavior scores. This result persisted when analysis was restricted to children with 85% consumption of capsule (per protocol analysis).


CONCLUSIONS
There seem to be no significant associations between AFCs and a preservative on Chinese children's behavior at the age of 8 to 9 years. Future directions and implications of this research are discussed.
*Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Centre for Nutritional Studies, †School of Pharmacy, and ‡Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; §Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; and ‖Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Kris Y W
KY
Lok
Ruth S M
RS
Chan
Vivian W Y
VW
Lee
Patrick W
PW
Leung
Cynthia
C
Leung
Jason
J
Leung
Jean
J
Woo
D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D020160:Sodium Benzoate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005505:Food Coloring Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D010919:Placebos; D020160:Sodium Benzoate