Is antisocial behavior preventable through early childhood nutrition?

November 12, 2004

Is antisocial behavior preventable through early childhood nutrition?

A study published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry (http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/) revealed that a deficiency of essential nutrients early in life is linked to behavior problems and reduced IQ later.

Researchers at the University of Southern California followed boys and girls on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius for 14 years. Nutritional status at age 3 was assessed by the presence of physical indicators of B vitamin, protein, zinc and iron deficiencies. Cognitive ability and intelligence were tested, and background and living conditions assessed.

Three hundred fifty-three participants exhibited signs of malnutrition, compared to 1,206 who did not. Home behavior was assessed at age 8, school behavior and cognitive function at age 11, and home and school behavior at 17. Compared to children who did not show signs of nutritional deficiencies at age 3, children who were malnourished were 41 percent more likely to demonstrate aggression at the age of 8. At age 11, malnourished children showed at 10 percent increase in aggression and delinquency, and at age 17, there was a 51 percent increase in violent and antisocial behavior compared to adequately nourished children. Having a greater number of malnutrition indicators was associated with increased antisocial behavior. Social class was not associated with the children's behavior in this study, however intelligence levels appeared to be a factor.

Study coauthor and University of Southern California professor of psychology Adrian Raine, explained, "Poor nutrition, characterized by zinc, iron, vitamin B and protein deficiencies, leads to low IQ, which leads to later antisocial behavior. These are all nutrients linked to brain development."

“There's more to antisocial behavior than nutrition, but we argue that it is an important missing link,” Dr Raine added. “Biology is not destiny. We can change the biological disposition to antisocial and aggressive behavior."

-D Dye

November 10, 2004

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org

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