July 30, 2014
Study of NSW inmates shows a lack of Omega 3s relates to aggression
Researchers enter NSW prison to see whether good nutrition, and in particular omega-3 fats, has a positive impact on behaviour.
Associate Professor Barbara Meyer and Associate Professor Mitch Byrne have just finished a year-long study into the impact of omega-3s on inmate behaviour.
Prison inmates who are low in omega-3s are more aggressive and more likely to have attention deficit disorder (ADD) behaviours, preliminary findings of a year-long study suggests.
Researchers from UOW partnered with Corrective Services NSW to undertake a unique pilot study of more 130 volunteers at the South Coast Correctional Centre in Nowra.
The preliminary findings, featured on ABC TV’s Catalyst on 31 July, suggest giving omega-3 supplements to young offenders might improve mental health and decrease violent behaviour.
Lipids researcher Associate Professor Barbara Meyer, from UOW’s School of Medicine, who led the ‘Omega Man’ study, said 19 per cent of inmates assessed were extremely low in omega-3s, with a median omega-3 index of 4.7 per cent, which is slightly lower than the Australian median of 5-6 per cent, but vastly lower than countries with rich seafood diets, such as Japan (8.5 per cent) and Korea (11 per cent).
“We already know that low omega-3 status is associated with increased mental health issues such as hyperactivity, poor impulse control and depression. Our study looked at the omega-3 status of inmates to see whether introducing more omega- 3 into to their diets could help reduce violence and anti-social behaviour, given about half of all Australian prisoners have been convicted for violent crimes.”
“We found a high variability in omega-3 status in the prison population, and inmates with lower omega-3 index were more aggressive and had higher ADD scores,” Professor Meyer said.
A previous small study in the UK found a 35 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour after giving omega-3 supplements to young offenders. However, this is the first study to examine blood omega-3 index in conjunction with aggression and attention deficit assessments.
Psychologist and Associate Professor Mitch Byrne, from UOW’s School of Psychology, who was also involved in the study, said: “Our preliminary results suggest that by introducing more omega-3s into prisons, we may be able to decrease aggression levels in inmates and help protect the community from violent reoffenders on release.”
Professor Byrne said it might also be possible to introduce omega-3 supplements in juvenile detention centres to help decease the likelihood of young people falling into a life of violent crime.
Media contact: Elise Pitt, UOW Media & PR Officer, +61 2 4221 3079, +61 422 959 953, epitt@uow.edu.au.