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CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DIETS OF CHRONIC JUVENILE OFFENDERS (ISSUED IN TWO PARTS)

NCJ Number
65208
Journal
Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry Volume: 8 Issue: 3 AND 4 Dated: (3RD AND 4TH QUARTERS OF 1979) Pages: 149-157,222-226
Author(s)
A G SCHAUSS; J BLAND; C E SIMONSEN
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A STUDY EXAMINING DIFFERENCES IN THE DIETS OF JUVENILES WITH NO HISTORY OF ARREST AND THOSE OF CHRONIC JUVENILE OFFENDERS EVALUATES THE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP FOUND BETWEEN MILK CONSUMPTION AND DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
THE STUDY UTILIZED TWO GROUPS OF SUBJECTS TOTALING 27 JUVENILES EACH, MATCHED BY AGE AND GENDER. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP CONSISTED OF JUVENILES ADJUDICATED FOR THREE OR MORE OFFENSES INCLUDING A FELONY. THE CONTROL GROUP WAS SELECTED FROM BEHAVIORALLY DISORDERED YOUTHS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. THE SAME INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING QUESTIONS ON DIET, LIFESTYLE, AND FAMILIAR BACKGROUND, WAS USED FOR ALL RESPONDENTS. CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS, THE DATA REVEALED A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE PREFERENCE FOR COW'S MILK. OFFENDERS PREFERRED MILK TWICE AS MUCH AS COLA, THEIR SECOND CHOICE, WHILE THE CONTROL GROUP INDICATED THE REVERSE ORDER OF PREFERENCE. MOREOVER, COMPARISON BETWEEN EACH GROUP'S MATCHED SUBJECTS SHOWED THE CHRONIC OFFENDER DOUBLING OR EXCEEDING THE CONTROL GROUP SUBJECT'S MILK INTAKE. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FINDING CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO A VARIETY OF BIOCHEMICAL MECHANISMS INDICATED AREAS OF FURTHER STUDY. FOR INSTANCE, THE EXCESSIVE MILK CONSUMPTION RESULTS IN GENERAL PROTEIN EXCESS, WITH POSSIBLE BIOCHEMICAL REACTIONS WHICH MIGHT ULTIMATELY AFFECT BEHAVIOR. AMONG THE ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED ARE MALABSORPTION SYNDROME, AUTO-INTOXICATION, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION, AND COPPER METALOENZYME DEFICIENCY. IN ADDITION, FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED INTO THE NATURE OF COMPULSIVE EATING BEHAVIOR, FOOD ALLERGIES, EXCESSIVE SUGAR CONSUMPTION, AND THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MILK. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 60531 AND 65209. (MRK)