Nutritional supplementation to reduce child aggression: a randomized, stratified, single-blind, factorial trial

This 2016 study tests the theory that taking supplements of omega-3, multivitamins, and minerals for 3 months, in addition to receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, can further reduce childhood aggression (relative to nutritional supplementation only). The participants (290 children aged between 11 and 12 years) were split up into 4 treatment groups: nutrition only; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) only; Nutrition + CBT; and Control. Both the children and parents reported the child’s aggressive and antisocial behavior at baseline, at the end of treatment (3-month mark), at 6 months, and at 12 months. Based on the self-reports of the children, those in the nutrition only group showed reduced externalizing behaviors compared to controls at the 3-month mark (externalizing behaviors often harm others as opposed to lashing out at one self). At the 6-month period, the Nutrition + CBT group exhibited less externalizing behavior than both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) only and Control groups. However, the group differences in outcomes were not maintained at 9-months post-treatment. This trial represents the first investigation of using nutritional supplements in conjunction with CBT in children. Overall, the results offered limited support for the efficacy of omega-3, vitamin, and mineral supplementation in reducing aggressive behavior in children. [NPID: children, aggression, aggressive, nutrition, omega 3, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, antisocial, behavior]

Year: 2016

Reference: Raine, A., Cheney, R. A., Ho, R., Portnoy, J., Liu, J., Soyfer, L., Hibbeln, J., & Richmond, T. S. (2016). Nutritional supplementation to reduce child aggression: a randomized, stratified, single-blind, factorial trial. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 57(9), 1038–1046. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12565

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