From British Journal of Psychiatry
July 2002 (Volume 181)
Influence of Supplementary Vitamins, Minerals and Essential Fatty Acids on the Antisocial Behaviour of Young Adult Prisoners. Randomised, Placebo-controlled Trial
Gesch CB, Hammond SM, Hampson SE, Eves A, Crowder MJ
British Journal of Psychiatry. 2002;181:22-28
The aim of this study was to determine whether physiologically adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids cause a reduction in antisocial behavior. The study was an experimental, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of nutritional supplements involving 231 young adult prisoners, with a comparison of disciplinary offenses before and during supplementation. Subjects were given either placebo or active supplementation. The active supplement consisted of a commercially available product containing a wide range of vitamins and minerals (including B vitamin complex, vitamins C and E, iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, iodine, selenium, chromium, and molybdenum) at doses equivalent to the UK reference nutrient intake/US recommended daily allowance. The supplement also included an omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
Dietary assessment was assessed at baseline, as was psychological testing. A total of 172 subjects remained in the trial for at least 2 weeks, and the pre-intervention dietary intake, psychological test score, and disciplinary offense record were similar between the placebo and active intervention groups.
Results showed that subjects on the active treatment committed an average of 26.3% (95% CI = 8.3% to 44.33%) fewer offenses (P = .03). When compared with baseline, subjects taking the supplements for at least 2 weeks had a 35% reduction in the number of disciplinary offenses (95% CI = 16.3% to 53.9%, P < .001), whereas the placebos remained within the standard error.
The authors conclude that antisocial behavior in prisons, including violence, are reduced by the intake of vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. This finding is likely to have similar implications for those consuming a poor diet in the community.
Clinical Commentary
A number of studies suggest that improving nutritional intake is associated with a reduction in antisocial behavior,[1,2] although it remains a controversial issue. This study is a valuable contribution to the debate because the study is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial that is based on a "real world" situation. The difficulty with the interpretation of the findings is that the supplements used in these trials cover a very broad spectrum of nutrients and thus provide very little indication as to what specific nutrients may be involved in the improvements that were found with this study.
These data suggest that poor diet is linked causally with aggressive behavior, and further research is required to determine whom this applies to and what elements of nutrition are involved.
References
1. Bjork JM, Dougherty DM, Moeller FG. The effects of tryptophan depletion and loading on laboratory aggression in men: time course and a food-restricted control. Psychopharmacology. 1999;142:24-30.
2. Golomb BA, Stattin H, Mednick S. Low cholesterol and violent crime. J Psychiatric Res. 2000;34:301-309.