ADHD-Drug Free?

Not sure about sugar, but you might find this interesting:

http://adc.bmj.com/content/89/6/506.short

Title:

The effects of a double blind, placebo controlled, artificial food colourings and benzoate preservative challenge on hyperactivity in a general population sample of preschool children

Abstract
Aims: To determine whether artificial food colourings and a preservative in the diet of 3 year old children in the general population influence hyperactive behaviour.

Methods: A sample of 1873 children were screened in their fourth year for the presence of hyperactivity at baseline (HA), of whom 1246 had skin prick tests to identify atopy (AT). Children were selected to form the following groups: HA/AT, not-HA/AT, HA/not-AT, and not-HA/not-AT (n = 277). After baseline assessment, children were subjected to a diet eliminating artificial colourings and benzoate preservatives for one week; in the subsequent three week within subject double blind crossover study they received, in random order, periods of dietary challenge with a drink containing artificial colourings (20 mg daily) and sodium benzoate (45 mg daily) (active period), or a placebo mixture, supplementary to their diet. Behaviour was assessed by a tester blind to dietary status and by parents’ ratings.

Results: There were significant reductions in hyperactive behaviour during the withdrawal phase. Furthermore, there were significantly greater increases in hyperactive behaviour during the active than the placebo period based on parental reports. These effects were not influenced by the presence or absence of hyperactivity, nor by the presence or absence of atopy. There were no significant differences detected based on objective testing in the clinic.

Conclusions: There is a general adverse effect of artificial food colouring and benzoate preservatives on the behaviour of 3 year old children which is detectable by parents but not by a simple clinic assessment. Subgroups are not made more vulnerable to this effect by their prior levels of hyperactivity or by atopy.

ADHD (as in the actual condition, not in children whose symptoms mimic it due to a lack of free play or whatever) is not caused by anything in the diet or cured by the removal of it. That said, it is an overdiagnosed condition, and some kids diagnosed with it don't actually have it and are very likely to be helped by having more free play and a healthier diet. There is some evidence that certain artificial additives can cause hyperactivity in some kids (and can make it worse in ADHD kids)

But if it's actual ADHD, as in the neurological condition, then you can't cure that, it's how the child's brain is wired up. Stimulant drugs like ritalin help some kids because they improve blood flow around the brain, which helps the affected centres of the brain to work better. (all this can be seen on brain scans) Whether that's the best treatment for any ADHD kid really is something that should be taken on a case by case basis, because the potential benefits need to be weighed against the side effects and there are other ways to help some ADHD kids. More exercise/physical activity/free play tends to help because it improves blood flow to the brain. But again, these things don't rewire a child's brain. They just help make the issues less bad.