Citation

Zaalberg A, Nijman H, Bulten E, Stroosma L, van der Staak CPF. Aggressive Behav. 2010; 36(2): 117-126.

Affiliation

WODC, Ministry of Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands. a.zaalberg@minjus.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, International Society for Research on Aggression, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ab.20335

PMID

20014286

Abstract

In an earlier study, improvement of dietary status with food supplements led to a reduction in antisocial behavior among prisoners. Based on these earlier findings, a study of the effects of food supplements on aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathology was conducted among young Dutch prisoners. Two hundred and twenty-one young adult prisoners (mean age=21.0, range 18-25 years) received nutritional supplements containing vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids or placebos, over a period of 1-3 months. As in the earlier (British) study, reported incidents were significantly reduced (P=.017, one-tailed) in the active condition (n=115), as compared with placebo (n=106). Other assessments, however, revealed no significant reductions in aggressiveness or psychiatric symptoms. As the incidents reported concerned aggressive and rule-breaking behavior as observed by the prison staff, the results are considered to be promising. However, as no significant improvements were found in a number of other (self-reported) outcome measures, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Language: en