The role of histamine degradation gene polymorphisms in moderating the effects of food additives on children's ADHD symptoms
The role of histamine degradation gene polymorphisms in moderating the effects of food additives on children's ADHD symptoms
Objective: Food additives can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and cause non-immunoglobulin E-dependent histamine release from circulating basophils. However, children vary in the extent to which their ADHD symptoms are exacerbated by the ingestion of food additives. The authors hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms affecting histamine degradation would explain the diversity of responses to additives.
Method: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, challenges involving two food color additive and sodium benzoate (preservative) mixtures in a fruit drink were administered to a general community sample of 3-year-old children (N = 153) and 8/9-year-old children (N = 144). An aggregate ADHD symptom measure (based on teacher and parent blind ratings of behavior, blind direct observation of behavior in the classroom, and—for 8/9-year-old children only—a computerized measure of attention) was the main outcome variable.
Results: The adverse effect of food additives on ADHD symptoms was moderated by histamine degradation gene polymorphisms HNMT T939C and HNMT Thr105Ile in 3- and 8/9-year-old children and by a DAT1 polymorphism (short versus long) in 8/9-year-old children only. There was no evidence that polymorphisms in catecholamine genes COMT Val108Met, ADRA2A C1291G, and DRD4-rs7403703 moderated the effect on ADHD symptoms.
Conclusions: Histamine may mediate the effects of food additives on ADHD symptoms, and variations in genes influencing the action of histamine may explain the inconsistency between previous studies. Genes influencing a range of neurotransmitter systems and their interplay with environmental factors, such as diet, need to be examined to understand genetic influences on ADHD symptoms.
1108-1115
Stevenson, J.
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Sonuga-Barke, E.
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McCann, D.
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Grimshaw, K.
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Parker, K.
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Rose-Zerilli, M.J.
08b3afa4-dbc2-4c0d-a852-2a9f33431199
Holloway, J.W.
4bbd77e6-c095-445d-a36b-a50a72f6fe1a
Warner, J.O.
c232f1e5-62eb-46e6-8b0c-4836b45b36a5
June 2010
Stevenson, J.
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Sonuga-Barke, E.
bc80bf95-6cf9-4c76-a09d-eaaf0b717635
McCann, D.
731f0e0f-66e6-4b65-bf62-32bad4b2402c
Grimshaw, K.
766b6cf0-347a-447d-aeab-f07366f8ce28
Parker, K.
fcd57d73-5582-42d7-8abc-ae701955bcd4
Rose-Zerilli, M.J.
08b3afa4-dbc2-4c0d-a852-2a9f33431199
Holloway, J.W.
4bbd77e6-c095-445d-a36b-a50a72f6fe1a
Warner, J.O.
c232f1e5-62eb-46e6-8b0c-4836b45b36a5
Stevenson, J., Sonuga-Barke, E., McCann, D., Grimshaw, K., Parker, K., Rose-Zerilli, M.J., Holloway, J.W. and Warner, J.O.
(2010)
The role of histamine degradation gene polymorphisms in moderating the effects of food additives on children's ADHD symptoms.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 167, .
(doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2010.09101529).
Abstract
Objective: Food additives can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and cause non-immunoglobulin E-dependent histamine release from circulating basophils. However, children vary in the extent to which their ADHD symptoms are exacerbated by the ingestion of food additives. The authors hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms affecting histamine degradation would explain the diversity of responses to additives.
Method: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, challenges involving two food color additive and sodium benzoate (preservative) mixtures in a fruit drink were administered to a general community sample of 3-year-old children (N = 153) and 8/9-year-old children (N = 144). An aggregate ADHD symptom measure (based on teacher and parent blind ratings of behavior, blind direct observation of behavior in the classroom, and—for 8/9-year-old children only—a computerized measure of attention) was the main outcome variable.
Results: The adverse effect of food additives on ADHD symptoms was moderated by histamine degradation gene polymorphisms HNMT T939C and HNMT Thr105Ile in 3- and 8/9-year-old children and by a DAT1 polymorphism (short versus long) in 8/9-year-old children only. There was no evidence that polymorphisms in catecholamine genes COMT Val108Met, ADRA2A C1291G, and DRD4-rs7403703 moderated the effect on ADHD symptoms.
Conclusions: Histamine may mediate the effects of food additives on ADHD symptoms, and variations in genes influencing the action of histamine may explain the inconsistency between previous studies. Genes influencing a range of neurotransmitter systems and their interplay with environmental factors, such as diet, need to be examined to understand genetic influences on ADHD symptoms.
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Published date: June 2010
Organisations:
Clinical Neurosciences
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Local EPrints ID: 73695
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73695
ISSN: 1535-7228
PURE UUID: f1349fe3-699b-44bb-a075-782642a3efa4
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:56
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Author:
E. Sonuga-Barke
Author:
D. McCann
Author:
K. Parker
Author:
J.O. Warner
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