Dr. Piesser and her colleagues conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 100 children between the ages of 4-8.  Half of the children were randomly selected to undergo a restrictive, low-allergy elimination diet for five weeks time.  The other half of the participants was engaged as a control group, and they were given instructions on eating a normal, healthy diet.  At the end of the first five weeks, two-thirds of the children on the restrictive elimination diet had significant improvements in their ADHD symptoms.  Further, after the initial five week phase, children whose symptoms had improved while on the restricted diet gradually reintroduced the eliminated foods to their diet.  In this second phase, 63 per cent of the children experienced a relapse of their ADHD symptoms!

Part of GetzWell Pediatrics’ functional approach to ADD and ADHD is to explore your child’s unique nutritional needs, behaviors, psychosocial circumstances, environmental exposures and a host of other mitigating factors before considering pharmaceutical treatments.  To learn more about elimination diets and other ADD/ADHD treatment protocols, contact our office at 415.825.1701 for an appointment.

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Quick Tip: In addition to food reactivity, other areas of interest when treating ADHD are the roles essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency and irregular EFA metabolism may play.  In recent years, a number of clinical studies have been conducted that consistently demonstrate that a significant number of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD are EFA deficient.  EFAs, also known as Omega-3s and Omega-6s, are critical to the process of cell development in every part of your child’s body.  One of the important Omega-3s is DHA, the most abundant fat in the brain (an organ that is 65% fat!).  Whole food sources of EFAs include fish and shellfish; some eggs; flaxseed; hemp and canola oil; chia, pumpkin and sunflower seeds; grass fed meats; walnuts; and an array of leafy vegetables.

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¹ “Effects of a restricted elimination diet on the behaviour of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (INCA study): a randomised controlled trial.”  The Lancet, Volume 377, Issue 9764, Pages 494 – 503, 5 February 2011

Research published in the June issue of the prestigious journal, Pediatrics, suggests that exposure to high levels of organophosphate pesticides may increase the risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

“Organophosphates are one of the most widely used pesticides in agriculture,” to quote from the article.

In their study, Bouchard and her colleagues analyzed data on pesticide exposure and ADHD in more than 1,100 American children aged 8 to 15. “The higher the level of exposure [as measured by metabolites in the urine], the higher the odds of having ADHD,” Bouchard said. High doses of organophosphates may inhibit acetylcholinesterase, a nervous system enzyme, and may affect different growth factors and neurotransmitters.

These findings may provide another clue about the causes of ADHD, a condition which affects one in fourteen school-aged children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism and other chronic disorders of brain and development may also be affected by pesticides, though this was not mentioned in this article.

Buying organic whenever possible, shopping at farmers’ markets, and washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly is the best way to minimize pesticide exposure.  It’s time to get serious about eating organic from before conception and throughout our lives.

*Before your Chronic Illness consult at GetzWell, we request that you provide us with your child’s complete medical record, including labs, imaging, and consult notes from other physicians. We may also ask you to sign a release so that we can discuss your child’s case with previous or collaborating providers.