Kris Y W Lok1, Ruth S M Chan, Vivian W Y Lee, Patrick W Leung, Cynthia Leung, Jason Leung, Jean Woo. 1. *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.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To test the individual effect of artificial food colorings (AFCs) and a preservative on the behavior of the general Chinese population. METHOD: 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 betweenAFCs, 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). CONCLUSION: 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.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVES: To test the individual effect of artificial food colorings (AFCs) and a preservative on the behavior of the general Chinese population. METHOD: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Mark D Miller; Craig Steinmaus; Mari S Golub; Rosemary Castorina; Ruwan Thilakartne; Asa Bradman; Melanie A Marty Journal: Environ Health Date: 2022-04-29 Impact factor: 7.123