Is there any biological explanation to support an effect of defined diets on hyperactivity?
Innumerable definitions have been offered for the hyperactivity syndrome in children. The latest of these, in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual III (DSM III) (the American Psychiatric Association), delineates the varied symptomatology in this behavioral syndrome. According to DSM III,”the essential features are signs of developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.” Other diagnostic qualifiers include onset prior to the age of 7, a duration of no less than 6 months, and a proven absence of mental illness or mental retardation. The cluster of symptoms does not represent a single disease, nor is it likely that the etiology is singular; rather, the syndrome may be secondary to (1) organic factors such as trauma, infection, lead intoxication, and significant perinatal hypoxia; (2) predisposing genetic (familial) factors; or (3) psychosocial factors such as anxiety, inadequate parenting, and environmental stresses. In most cases the etiology is unknown and may b
