I asked:
> We are having a disagreement here about the behavioral and mental
> effects of sugar. Is there any credible evidence that consuming sugar
> (say, the amount one would get in a glazed donut or a couple soft
> drinks) will lead people (adults and/or children), on AVERAGE, to feel
> jittery and hyperactive with concomitant effects on mental state?
I have been looking for an answer to my question. I found one for
children in Cozza & Dulcan (1999). They state:
"Controlled studies have been unable to demonstrate that ingesting sugar
has an effect on activity or aggression in HEALTHY or HYPERACTIVE
children, even those identified by their parents as sugar responsive
(Milich et al. 1986; Wender and Solanto 1991). Clinically insignificant
effects on attention have been demonstrated only in young children and
only after a high-carbohydrate breakfast (Wender and Solanto 1991)." (p.
1367; emphasis added)
Of course, this doesn't answer conclusively the question about the effect
of sugar on subjective experience--that is, the so-called "sugar
rush"--which many people claim to experience. But this would presumably
be affected by suggestion and, perhaps, by the ingestion of other
substances at the same time (such as caffeine in soft drinks or coffee).
Jeff
References:
Cozza, S. J., & Dulcan, M. K. (1999). Treatment of children and
adolescents. In R. E. Hales, S. C. Yudofsky, & J. A. Talbott (eds.)
_Textbook of psychiatry_ (pp. 1331-1377). Washington, D. C.: American
Psychiatric Press.
Milich, R., Wolraich, M., & Lindgren, S. (1986). Sugar and hyperactivity:
a critical review of empirical findings. _Clinical Psychology Review_,
_6_, 493-513.
Wender, E. H., & Solanto, M. V. (1991). Effects of sugar on aggressive
and inattentive behavior in children with attention-deficit disorder with
hyperactivity and normal children. _Pediatrics_, _88_, 960-966.
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"Science must begin with myths and with the criticism of myths"
Karl Popper
"If you want to learn new things, you should try reading old books."
Richard Cytowic
