The impact of diet on anti-social, violent and criminal behaviour.
The role of diet in anti-social behaviour was considered, paying particular attention to double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Meta-analysis of five well-designed studies found that elimination diets reduced hyperactivity-related symptoms, producing a summary standardized mean difference (SSMD) of 0.80 (95% CI 0.41-1.19). The picture was of children potentially responding to a wide range of food items although the pattern was individual to the child. Supplementation with poly-unsaturated fatty acids decreased violence (SSMD -0.61, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.39) although there was no evidence of an influence on hyperactivity. Three well-designed studies have reported that vitamin/mineral supplementation reduced anti-social behaviour. There are also findings of an association between a tendency to develop low blood glucose and aggression. Many responses to diet were idiosyncratic and involved a wide range of foods interacting with individual differences in physiology. Reactions were not observed in all members of groups chosen because they share a common behavioural designation or diagnosis.
Benton
David
D
Department of Psychology, University of Wales Swansea, Wales, UK. d.benton@swansea.ac.uk
D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014754:Violence