Health Benefits & Concerns for Sweeteners
Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADHD)
Some parents believe that sugar may aggravate ADHD. One study found that avoiding sugar
reduced aggressiveness and restlessness in hyperactive children. Girls who restrict sugar have
been reported to improve more than boys. However, a study using large amounts of sugar and
aspartame (NutraSweet®) found that negative reactions to these substances were limited to
just a few children. While most studies have not found sugar to stimulate hyperactivity,
except in rare cases, the experimental design of these studies has been questioned.
Copyright © 2004 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.healthnotes.com
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
Learn more about the authors of
Foodnotes.
The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational
purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts.
Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using
any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed
medications. Information expires March 2005.
