Dietary Treatment of Hyperactive Children

• Main Author: Rogers, Gary S.
• Other Authors: Hughes, Howard, 1937-
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: North Texas State University 1976
• Subjects: medical nutrition therapy; Hyperactive children.; Children > Nutrition.; salicylate-restricted diet; hyperactive children
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc663252/

This study investigated whether a salicylate-restricted diet (eliminating foods containing artificial additives and natural salicylates) could effectively reduce hyperactivity in children more so than a diet not restricting salicylates (ostensibly restricting foods containing refined sugar). Ten hyperactive children, nine boys and one girl, were matched on their pre-treatment activity rates and assigned to either a salicylate-restricted diet (Group I) or a diet not restricting salicylates (Group II). After approximately nine weeks, post-treatment activity rates were obtained, and a significant difference in favor of the salicylate-restricted diet group was found with this diet group exhibiting a significantly lower mean post-treatment activity rate in comparison to the group placed on a diet not restricting salicylates (p<.05). Implications for diagnosis and treatment of hyperactivity in children were discussed.