Sue Young Homeopathy

With thanks to the Daily Telegraph 15.1.08

Prisoners will be given vitamins and mineral supplements in an attempt to improve their behaviour and cut down on violence behind bars, The Daily Telegraph has learned.

The Ministry of Justice will fund pioneering research into the connection between the diet of young offenders and their behaviour.

The pilot scheme comes as a cross-party group of MPs and peers prepares to publish a study showing how greater use of nutritional supplements could improve the education and criminal justice systems.

Some scientists believe that a diet low in important nutrients encourages violent and disruptive behaviour in children and young adults.

The MoJ is planning to test that theory using vitamin and mineral supplements.

Tests will be conducted at two young offenders’ institutions later this year.

Inmates at one will be given pills containing vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Subjects at the other will get placebos.

The study will be led by scientists from Oxford University’s Laboratory of Physiology.

Bernard Gesch, an Oxford scientist who is expected to lead the Government-funded trials, argues that the modern diet, heavy in sugars and additives but poor in key minerals, is a potential factor in crime and anti-social behaviour.

Vitamin and fatty acid supplements may reduce antisocial behaviour in incarcerated young adults Gesch B, Hammond S, Hampson S et al. Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Brit J Psychiatry 2002 July;181:22–8

Declaration of interest: The research was supported by a grant from the research charity Natural Justice (see Acknowledgements) and managed from the University of Surrey. Scotia Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Unigreg Ltd supplied nutritional supplements.

Background: There is evidence that offenders consume diets lacking in essential nutrients and this could adversely affect their behaviour.

Aims: To test empirically if physiologically adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids cause a reduction in antisocial behaviour.

Method: Experimental, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial of nutritional supplements on 231 young adult prisoners, comparing disciplinary offences before and during supplementation.

Results: Compared with placebos, those receiving the active capsules committed an average of 26.3% (95% CI 8.3-44.33%) fewer offences (P=0.03, two-tailed). Compared to baseline, the effect on those taking active supplements for a minimum of 2 weeks (n=172) was an average 35.1% (95% CI 16.3-53.9%) reduction of offences (P<0.001, two-tailed), whereas placebos remained within standard error.

Conclusions: 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.