Malnutrition effects on Crime and Delinquency: A Meta-Analysis of the Quasi-experimental and Randomized Controlled Trials Progressing from Correlation through Causation

• In Event: Biosocial Research on Nutrition and Antisocial Behaviors

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of malnutrition on incident reports for more than 8,000 incarcerated offenders. Using meta-analysis, reviewing studies on malnutrition, we find a 48% reduction in correctional facility serious incident reports occurring in 14 sites after dietary revisions. Causality arguments come from 5 randomized controlled trials testing for a cause and effect relationship. Among the treated, adults produced between 35 and 38% fewer incidents than controls. Children produced 47% fewer incidents. Doses were physiological instead of pharmaceutical and saved over $800,000 in adults.
Among the most violent, incidents fell 88% among those with low blood nutrient concentrations that were corrected, but only 4% among the remainder. Pre- and Post- brain mapping showed no change among the controls, but an 86% reduction in abnormalities among the treated.
Elementary schoolchildren in the treatment group had a 47% greater reduction in school suspensions and less chronic suspensions (i.e., 3 to10) by a 9 to 1 ratio. There were also significant differences in academic performance. Wolfgang found that the best predictors of future chronic offending were repeated suspensions and academic failure. This research suggests that some chronic offending and school violence may be also be prevented before it starts through nutritional supplementation.

Authors

• S.J. Schoenthaler, California State University, Stanislaus

• R.C. Morris, Purdue University