Yellow dye and sleep

[SeanF]

My son is also autistic, and has had difficulty sleeping his entire life. While researching any relevant possible causes, I came across a study on Pubmed that found a correlation between yellow dyes in food and sleep disturbances. Has anyone else on here experienced this firsthand?

 

[Tom]

Never heard of it till you mentioned it. Quick survey revealed some studies showing Yellow 5 and 6 having negative side effects with 5 associated with hyperactivity i children in particular. But it is debated and FDA and European agencies have differeing opinions with FDA citing lack of convincing evidence.

If you read up on it you can learn how to reduce Yellow 5 (one of the most common used) with natural dietary changes and see if that helps. Basically learn which foods have the most in it and change brands or use substiutes. For instance: no more candycorn!

 

[Slime_Punk]

That's very specific, but possible. The interesting thing about scientific studies is that you can essentially find similar results for gluten, dairy, certain macro deficiencies or excesses (like carbohydrates, vitamins, electrolytes), etc -- if not overwhelming results for just gluten or wheat alone, especially for those who are sensitive to it.

I think the unfortunate truth is that sleeping is tough for a lot of us with ASD, but that doesn't mean that certain dietary restrictions can't help, because they absolutely can. The issue with specific ingredients is that they can just complicate the issue, IMHO. Mostly, a cleaner diet, more exercise and larger 'brushstrokes' can work wonders.

Of course, genetic testing can rule out those quirky specifics, though. I've been down those rabbit holes, and honestly none of them were true. Go figure

 

[Cryptid]

Just remember that 'Studies' are largely statistical in nature, and do not offer definitive proof of claim.

 

[Outdated]

When we were kids back in the 70s my brother was diagnosed as hyperactive and Mum found a special diet for hyperactivity. It wasn't about which foods you could eat but about what preservatives and additives were used in those foods.

Some brands of soft drink were allowed but not others. The cheaper home brand breads were fine but the more expensive breads (wondersoft) were not. Some brands of chocolate bar but not others. All brands of tomato sauce (ketchup) were off limits but home made tomato sauce was fine.

When first put on this diet (the whole family, he wasn't singled out) my brother threw tantrums and had fits like a drug addict going through withdrawal, but the diet worked and his hyperactivity settled down.

Most of those additives are completely banned in Australia now as they are in many other countries around the world, there's many US foods that can't be bought in Australia because they are classed as unfit for human consumption.

 

[Cryptid]

Back in the '60s, at least in my community, there was a great uproar over the assertion that Red Dye #2 made children feel 'libidinous', and that it was the root cause of early puberty and teenage girls getting pregnant.

This later turned out to be only a rumor, but it did result in adults confiscating their kids' red-colored candies and beverages -- presumably to consume for themselves.

 

[Judge]

Back in the '60s, at least in my community, there was a great uproar over the assertion that Red Dye #2 made children feel 'libidinous', and that it was the root cause of early puberty and teenage girls getting pregnant.

This later turned out to be only a rumor, but it did result in adults confiscating their kids' red-colored candies and beverages -- presumably to consume for themselves.

California is going after red dye #3 in food as well, with the FDA taking a closer look. It's also been banned from cosmetics for a long time. Go figure.

 

[SeanF]

4l

That's very specific, but possible. The interesting thing about scientific studies is that you can essentially find similar results for gluten, dairy, certain macro deficiencies or excesses (like carbohydrates, vitamins, electrolytes), etc -- if not overwhelming results for just gluten or wheat alone, especially for those who are sensitive to it.

I think the unfortunate truth is that sleeping is tough for a lot of us with ASD, but that doesn't mean that certain dietary restrictions can't help, because they absolutely can. The issue with specific ingredients is that they can just complicate the issue, IMHO. Mostly, a cleaner diet, more exercise and larger 'brushstrokes' can work wonders.

Of course, genetic testing can rule out those quirky specifics, though. I've been down those rabbit holes, and honestly none of them were true. Go figure

Yes. So true. I am aware that a lot of the things could be impacting the sleep. We are both gym rats, so lack of exercise is not the issue. Neither of eat poorly, but with so many other avenues already tried with little success, I thought I would examine our diet a little more carefully. Dyes were not something I had considered before. We have eliminated most dairy. Gluten is a possible problem too, but I am saving that for a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation. I don't eat a lot of wheat as it is. Eliminating certain dyes felt more manageable. I have learned to be dubious of studies as well, especially isolated ones. That was why I was wondering if anybody else who shared the sleeping issues had tried eliminating yellow dyes. And if they had, whether or not they found any success when doing so.

 

[SeanF]

California is going after red dye #3 in food as well, with the FDA taking a closer look. It's also been banned from cosmetics for a long time. Go figure.

Not sure why dye is needed at all. I don't really care what color my food is so long as it tastes good.

 

[SeanF]

Back in the '60s, at least in my community, there was a great uproar over the assertion that Red Dye #2 made children feel 'libidinous', and that it was the root cause of early puberty and teenage girls getting pregnant.

This later turned out to be only a rumor, but it did result in adults confiscating their kids' red-colored candies and beverages -- presumably to consume for themselves.

Great word: libidinous.

 

[SeanF]

Just remember that 'Studies' are largely statistical in nature, and do not offer definitive proof of claim.

This study just pointed our a correlation. It did not set out to prove that yellow dyes were the cause. But having tried almost everything to sleep at night, I am more willing to investigate the quirky.

 

[Judge]

Not sure why dye is needed at all. I don't really care what color my food is so long as it tastes good.

I recall all the controversy over red#2 dye years ago. But in the end it seemed more of a marketing issue than one of personal preference. With business "wagging the dog", worried that we might not adjust to a perception of products not matching a particular color. And there's a whole lot of camouflage and deception going on in the marketplace on multiple levels.

Though I agree, if it tastes what I expect, the color doesn't matter. Reminds me of white strawberry ice cream. Or clear colored diet drinks with distinct flavors. LOL...I don't give it much thought. Though weaning myself off of things like aspertame continues to be a struggle.

 

[Outdated]

Though I agree, if it tastes what I expect, the color doesn't matter.

I've been watching a lot of reaction videos on youtube lately and some I found really interesting were comparisons of US foods with their European and Australian counterparts. The same foods made by the same companies but manufactured locally in different countries. Cadbury chocolate was one of the common ones they compared. MacDonalds was another one.

They seemed pretty unanimous that the US versions were very poor imitations of the foods sold in other countries and the list of ingredients for some of them is mind boggling. Even just in the MacDonalds fries.

 

[SeanF]

https://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/2222-FDCYellowNo5CI19140/The above is a list of studies with their findings. I have yet to do a deep dive into all of them, but this site provides a useful summary of, what I am guessing, are some of the larger studies into the subject.

 

[Judge]

They seemed pretty unanimous that the US versions were very poor imitations of the foods sold in other countries and the list of ingredients for some of them is mind boggling. Even just in the MacDonalds fries.

My impression of food processing in general is that in the US making edible things of any kind is first and foremost a matter of how to make it addictive, or at least try. Forcing any number of potentially toxic and carcinogenic substances down our throats in the process.

While outside the US the dominant thought may well reflect nutrition and a sincere lack of toxicity in general.

 

[Outdated]

https://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/2222-FDCYellowNo5CI19140/The above is a list of studies with their findings. I have yet to do a deep dive into all of them, but this site provides a useful summary of, what I am guessing, are some of the larger studies into the subject.

This might also be helpful:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tartrazine