Metabolic Syndrome - International Academy of Homotoxicology

) What Else Is New?
New scientific findings suggest
that artificial food colors and
additives (AFCAs) are associated
with increased hyperactivity in
children.
More evidence on
Soda: Is just one a day too
much for your heart?
Does TV make children
smart?
artificial food colorings
) 8
and hyperactivity
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled
clinical trial published
in The Lancet presents additional
evidence that artificial food
colors and additives (AFCAs) in the
diet cause hyperactivity in children.
The 153 3-year-old children and
144 8/9-year-olds included in the
study consumed either a placebo
mix or test drinks containing sodium
benzoate preservatives plus one
of two AFCA mixes (A or B). To assess
hyperactivity levels in both age
groups, the researchers used aggregated
z-scores of observed behaviors
and ratings by parents and
teachers. In addition, the 8/9-yearolds
took a computerized test of attention.
Compared with placebo, mix A had
statistically significant adverse effects
on 3-year-olds, whereas mix B
did not. The 8/9-year-olds showed
statistically significant adverse effects
from both mixes. The authors
concluded that artificial food colors
and/or sodium benzoate preservatives
in the diet result in increased
hyperactivity in 3-year-old and
8/9-year-old children in the general
population.
The Lancet
2007;370(9598):1560-1567
Increased consumption of sugary
drinks, already linked to obesity and
diabetes among children and teens
and to high blood pressure in adults,
may also increase the risk of metabolic
syndrome, which in turn increases
chances of developing heart
disease and/or diabetes. A new
study published in the July 31 2007
issue of the American Heart Association’s
journal Circulation found that
the prevalence of metabolic syndrome
was 44 to 48 percent higher
among people who drank as little as
one soda a day, either diet or regular,
as compared to those who drank
less than one.
The study did not determine whether
soda consumption constitutes a
true risk factor in itself or is simply
a marker for other behaviors that
promote metabolic syndrome. People
who drink soda habitually also
tend to consume more total calories
and high-fat foods, smoke more,
and exercise less than people who
do not. Sodas may also displace
healthier beverages in the diet or encourage
a sweet tooth.
Needless to say, the soda industry
took issue with the findings.
Circulation 2007;116:480-488
Child psychologists and pediatricians
advise beginning early with
normal social interactions with other
toddlers, using normal language
(not baby talk) with babies and toddlers,
and finding playful ways to
introduce children to logical processes.
But parents don’t always have
a lot of time to spend talking to their
babies, keeping them occupied, or
reading to them on a regular basis.
That’s why parents in the USA are
increasingly using television, with
its special children’s programs, as an
educational aid. A recent study explored
this topic, asking whether
TV promotes child development or
whether parents simply permit TV
watching for egotistical reasons.
In a telephone survey, 40 percent of
parents admitted to allowing their
three-month-old babies to watch
television on a regular basis. According
to the same survey, 90 percent
of two-year-olds spend 1.5
hours a day in front of the TV. The
respondents said they believed television
would help their children develop
language skills, but they also
admitted that they used television to
keep kids entertained and as an
electronic babysitter.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
2007;161:473-479
Journal of Biomedical Therapy 2008 ) Vol. 2, No. 1