Omega-3, Vitamins, Minerals may reduce Aggressive Behaviour

Nutritional supplements containing vitamins, minerals, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a 34 per cent reduction in violent incidents, according to a recent study with over 200 young adult offenders (mean age=21.0, range 18-25 years) published in Aggressive Behavior.

On the other hand, a 14 per cent increase in the number of reported incidents in participants in the placebo group were reported by the Dutch scientists, led by Ap Zaalberg from the Dutch Ministry of Justice.

This a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial follows on from a study in England by Bernard Gesch et al (Br J Psychiatry. 2002 Jul;181:22-8.) which found that antisocial behaviour in prisons, including violence, are reduced by vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids with similar implications for those eating poor diets in the community.

Commenting independently on the research, Professor Michael Crawford, director of the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan University said that the link between diet and aggressive behaviour “makes sense on the basis of evidence of links between major depression, suicide and homicide reported by Dr Joseph Hibbeln at the National Institutes of Health in the USA and of course our stuff demonstrating the absolute dependence of the brain on the long chain essential fatty acids.”

Journal Reference:

Zaalberg, H. Nijman, E. Bulten, L. Stroosma, C. van der Staak. Effects of nutritional supplements on aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathology among young adult prisoners. Aggr. Behav. 36:117-126, 2010

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