The triggers for hyperactivity in the hyperkinetic child were oddly enough discovered through studying flea bites and their resulting allergic reactions. Through his work as an allergist in the Bay Area, which has a very high population of fleas, he and his team discovered the mechanism that causes a reaction from flea bites. When a flea bites a mammal, a low-molecular chemical present in their saliva is responsible for producing a reaction to the bite. These tiny molecular chemicals are called haptens. Alone, they are unable to produce an immune response in the body and do not cause an allergic reaction on their own. However, these haptens are able to combine with larger proteins in the body, which then allows them to produce an allergic response in the body. Dr. Feingold and his team, through their research of fleas and the immune response produced in the body resulting from their bites, discovered that a single bite would not produce an allergic reaction. However, subsequent bites would cause an allergic reaction in the body and Dr. Feingold was even able to determine the exact point in time in which the flea bites would spark an allergic reaction. With fleas, the haptens present in the flea saliva would mix with collagen in the skin and form a compound big enough to cause an allergic response.
Through his work studying fleas, Dr. Feingold became interested in studying the haptenic mechanism in the immune response. This interest was sparked by the realization that the chemicals we use in our medications and the additives that we put in our food are also low-molecular compounds. One could reason that an immune response in the body could easily be produced through the same haptenic mechanism resulting from such medications and food additives. Something overlooked by many physicians was the fact that food dyes can produce a similar effect to various medications in the body, leading Dr. Feingold and his team to focus on both of these areas.
They first focused their attention on aspirin, which is also known as acetylsalicylic acid. This compound is important to remember, as it is closely related to the salicylates that are found naturally in various foods and is the synthetic version that is manufactured for various medications. Acetylsalicylic acid slowly builds up in the body and has an accumulation effect, which can explode into full intolerance. Dr. Feingold learned from a report by Dr. W. B. Shelley that a number of foods contain salicylates and produce a similar effect as aspirin in the body, leading to major allergic reactions in some individuals. This led Dr. Feingold to formulate a nutritional diet for some patients that was free of salicylates, including a handful of foods, as well as aspirin and all medications containing acetylsalicylic acid. This is the basis of the Feingold Diet.
Salicylates, acetylsalicylic acid in medications such as aspirin, as well as artificial food dyes and flavors produce an immune response in the body that presents itself as hyperactivity. ADHD is part of the biochemistry of the individual, but salicylates and all of its derivatives produce a reaction in the body over time that results in the classic hyperactive behavior that we know as ADHD. The Feingold Diet is simply an elimination diet that identifies all triggers and removes them from being consumed. The results are quite shocking in many cases, as many children and adults can discontinue taking their stimulant-based ADHD medication without any adverse effects. While those with ADHD obviously react in a much more sensitive manner to salicylates, it’s important to note that artificial food coloring and flavors, as well as aspirin produce similar reactions in many children who don’t have ADHD. However, the response is far more debilitating and life altering for a child or adult living with ADHD, meaning an elimination diet is far more necessary in most cases.