Does omega-3 supplementation reduce aggressive behaviour in adult male prisoners?

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether omega-3 supplementation attenuates aggressive behaviours in adult male prisoners who have previously demonstrated aggression within the prison. Prisoners will be randomly assigned to an active or placebo supplementation condition. Measures of institutional aggression and hypothesised associated mental health condition (ADHD) will be collected to assess the impact of omega-3 supplementation. It is hypothesised that prisoners receiving the active (omega-3) supplements will demonstrate reduced aggressive behaviour and reduced ADHD symptoms, compared to prisoners receiving a placebo supplement.

Meyer BJ, Byrne MK, Cortie CH, Parletta N, Jones A, Eckermann S, Butler T, Greenberg D, Batterham M, Fernandez F, Schofield PW, Winberg PC, Bowles K, Dally J, Martin AM, Grant L.

2021-05-021 citations

10.1186/s13063-021-05252-2

Interventions

Inmates will receive 5 capsules (omega-3 or placebo) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays totalling 15 capsules per week. The active and placebo will be randomly assigned to Treatment A and Treatment B. The algal DHA-O capsules are ~1 g with 509.2 mg/capsule DHA/EPA (i.e., DHA 324 mg/ capsule and EPA 185.3 mg/capsule), hence providing a daily dose of 1,091mg omega-3 (694mg DHA and 397mg EPA). The placebo capsules are a corn/soy oil blend which are identical in size and colour. Duration of the inte

Inmates will receive 5 capsules (omega-3 or placebo) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays totalling 15 capsules per week. The active and placebo will be randomly assigned to Treatment A and Treatment B. The algal DHA-O capsules are ~1 g with 509.2 mg/capsule DHA/EPA (i.e., DHA 324 mg/ capsule and EPA 185.3 mg/capsule), hence providing a daily dose of 1,091mg omega-3 (694mg DHA and 397mg EPA). The placebo capsules are a corn/soy oil blend which are identical in size and colour. Duration of the intervention is 16 weeks. Monitoring of adherence to the intervention will be by direct observation by the study personnel (the project officer) and for the active group, the change in the level of omega-3 levels in the blood will also be a measure of compliance

Study design

Allocation

Randomised controlled trial

Intervention model

Parallel

Primary purpose

Treatment

Masking

Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

Male

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

No

Inclusion criteria

Inmate Behavioural Observation Scale (IBOS) of 1 or greater. Blood omega-3 level of 6% or lower.

Exclusion criteria

Inmate Behavioural Observation Scale (IBOS) of less than 1. Inmates on any blood thinning medication. Blood omega-3 level higher than 6%.

Outcome results