A study of serum lipid profile and serum apolipoproteins A1 and B in Indian male violent criminal offenders.
BACKGROUND
High cholesterol has been advanced as the most important factor in the development of coronary artery disease. Most panels have recommended population-wide dietary restrictions, yet a body of evolving data yields evidence of the hazards of low cholesterol, including links to aggression and hostility.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the serum lipid profile and serum apolipoproteins A1 and B of men with a violent criminal record and men with no criminal history.


METHODS
Fasting blood samples were collected from 30 men with a known history of violent crime and 30 men with no criminal record. Serum lipid profile and serum apolipoproteins A1 and B were measured in each sample, and compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The group with the violent criminal record showed significantly lower total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, higher apolipoprotein A1 and lower apolipoprotein B compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, higher apolipoprotein A1 and lower apolipoprotein B could predispose to violence. Future research might explore the possibility that diets offered in prison could affect relevant pathways in lipid metabolism.
Chakrabarti
Nandini
N
Ailsa Hospital, Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust, Ayr, UK. nandini_dass@rediffmail.com
Sinha
V K
VK
D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003415:Crime / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL