The Feingold dietary treatment of the hyperkinetic syndrome.

A satisfactory explanation of the hyperkinetic syndrome in children has been lacking. Feingold has advanced the hypothesis that naturally occurring salicylates and artificial food additives may cuase this syndrome in certain children , who have a genetically determined predisposition. Following Feingold's dietary prescription, an elimination diet relevant to the foods available in Sydney was developed. The treatment regime is described, and the results of its application to 15 hyperkinetic children are presented. The parents of 10 children are "quite certain" and those of three others "fairly certain" that their children's behaviour not only improved substantially with the diet, but also relapsed promptly when significant dietary infringements occurred. A possible ecological implication of these findings is briefly discussed.