A S

The Society for the Understanding of Nutrition810 Pinecrest Road, Suite 1201, Otta\'/aK2B SW6

CHI L D H 0 0 D ~ X PER ~ E ~ C E S

C A USE S 0 ~ CRI M I N ATE E H A V

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lit

~IOU R

The report to Senator Fred A. McGrand, Cha rmanThe Sena~e Subcomrnitte8 on Childhood Gxper ences

as Causes of Criminal Behaviour

This report was prepared in cooperation withthe following mAmbers of the Society for theUnderstand~ng of Nutr~tion

~irielle Archamhaul~

Sharon AugerBarbara Davids0nFrancine DoneganLibuse GilkaBetty HoldsworthRegina J8necekAnn LentonBritt-Marie LindgrenSherry Smith

A S

The Society for the Understanding of Nutrition810 Pinecrest ROCld, Suite 1201, OttawaK2B SW6

CHI L D H 0 0 D ~ X PER T E ~ C E S

C A USE SOP CRI M I N A T P ~ H A V

,//

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lit

~IOU R

The report to Senator Fred A. McGra~d. Gha r~anThe Senate Subcommitte9 on Childhood Exper ences

as Causes of Criminal Behaviour

This report was prepared in cooperation w:~n

the following ffiRffibers of the Society for theUnderstand~ng of Nutr~tton

~irielle Archamhaul~

Sharon AugerBarbara Davids:)nFrancine DoneganLibuse GilkaBetty Holds\VcrthRegina J::,necekAnn LentonBritt-Marie LindgrenSherry Smith

CO:iTEinS

OJLTAf\Y Ff\CT02S, LE/\RiW1G DTSP.8ILITIFS MiD DELIr:C)JF.r~CY----------··_-------P~CJe 1Relation of Food and Additives ~o Grai!] ActivitY------------------Pd~e 1Food Allergy, i'icllnutrition, liypoglyccmi,! anrl ;\b:'lorrr:",l 8C'h2viour---PZlge 2Rcle of Food and Food ,ll.dditivC'·:; in Hype:'c;cti·:itY,.LearningDisabilities, and !'liJlimal Breiin Dysfuncti\)t)-----------------------Page 2Relation of Ch-!orine and FluoriClo in \'!,Jtcr to l52hav·ioul'-----------Pagc 2Lack of Animal [xpel'ilflents on Effects of rood Additives-----------Page 2Hidden All eI'9ens il nd Be h<:t vi 0 ur Ch an'j (: s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page 3Chemicals and Behaviour Changes-----------------------------------Page 4Malignant Tumors ~nd Food Additives-------------------------------Page 4Noniay I s Ban on Art ifi cia1 rood Col ou ri n95--------- -- ----------- .. -Page 5No Duta on Nu!nbcrs or Amounts of Chemical s fOI' Human Use----------PoJe 5netabolic Defects und Brain Dysfunction AggravJted by FoodAdditives-----------------------------------------~----------------Page 5Inhibition of Enz)':"1e Ji.ctivity by Food I\dditi'les and Lack ofVitamins Frequently Follo'lied by Abnormal P,rain Fullction-----------Page 5Improvement of Brain j·1etabolism and Grain P,ctivity by Vitaminsand Minerals------------------------------------------------------Page 5

ORTI10~OLECULAR THERAPY AND ITS EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOUR AND GENERAL HEALTH--Page 6Pellagra and Crimin~lity------------------------------------------page 6Vitamin 83 (Niacin) in the Treatment of Mental Problems-----------Page 6Schizophrenia and Criminality-------------------------------------Page 5Hypoglyccmia arId Criminality--------------------------------------Page 7Orthomolecula~ Therapy and Prevention of Crinle--------------------Page 7

-'1 GAGA, A nATUFJIL TRD,r:QUlLIZER--------------------------------------------PJge 7~ Decreased Formaticn of GAR.A by Chlorine---------------------------Page 7

GABA and Huntington's Chorea--------------------------------------Page 8Hunt i ngton I s Chon::a and Del i nr:uent l3eha vi our- ------- --------- -----Page 8GABA - Its 8eneficial Effect on Violent Behaviour and LearningProblcms----------------------------------------------------------Page 8Safety of GABA----------------------------------------------------Page 8

Sf,lOKHiG Arm HYPER IRR ITAB ILITY - -- - --- - --- ----..:- -------- ---- --- - -------- --Page 8Relation Bet\ieen Early Smoking and Behaviour Problems-------------Page 8

BEHAVIOUR TOXICOLOGY----------------------------------------------------Page 9Relation of Chemicals to Abnormal Behaviour-----------------------Page 9Use of Artificial Sweeteners by Pregnant Rats Followed byBrain Lesions in Offspring----------------------------------------Page 9Effects of the Use of Artificial Sweeteners by Women before,during and afte~' Pregnancy on Offspring---------------------------Page 9Delayed Effects of the Chemicals on the Brain Function------------Page 9Chemicals in the Bl'ain of the Foetus------------------------------Page 9Increased Vulnerability of the Gro\'iing Or'gan1sfll to Chemicals------Page 10Neg(ltive Effects of Chemicals on ~!aternal 8ehavioul·----------------Page 10Specia 1 Aff i nit ies 0 f Ch em i ca 1s for Par ticu1ar 0c: 'J clop in')Brain Centres-----------------------------------------------------Page 10

ADVANTAGES or ORTHGMOLECULAR THERAPY------------------------------------Page 10

- 2 -

OTH[1Z CO:lTRIilUTIriG Ff,CTORS 1;: DFLH:QUU:O--------------------------------Page 11Rejection of Child as Pl'edisposing FactoI' to Crir:lirtal ity----------P,",ge 11fl!l1bivalc:nce to Violcncc-------------------------------------------Pdgc 11r10ral De\'elopr~2nt: of Children and the r1edia------:-----------------f'age 11Belson's Sturly on TV and Violent GeIJaviour-------------------------Pcge 11Mexico and TV Violence--------------------------------------------Page 12

SUGG[STIOi~S-------------------------------------------------------------Page 13Research Studies------------------------------·--------------------Page 13Prevention of Child Abuse---------~-------------------------------rage 13Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency-----~--------------------------Page13Social Factors----------------------------------------------------Page 14

REF[f;UiCES--- -- -- -- -- _.- -- --- - ----- -- --- - --- -- -------- -- - -- ---- -- - --- -- - - pC! gP. 15

APPE:;DIX----------------------------------------------------------------Page 17

SOt1[ OF THE m:ASUf~[S \-!IlI CH 1·1/\Y COUNTERACT THE Err ECTS OF Sm~E

Hl~.Rr1FUL CHILDHOOD HiFLljErlCES Nm EXPERIEUCES AND RF.DUCE THELIKELIHOOD Of~ CRIr1JW1L BEHf\'JIOUR----------------------------------------Pagc 18

SOi~E OF KNOW; H/\Ri·1iUL CI-I I LDHOOD I NFLUErlCES AND EXPERIENCES ANDTHEIr IrlTERACTIOr; PREDISPOSIi1G TO ANTISOCIAL BEH/WIOUR Ar~D

eRIi'i I [Ul,L ITY- - --- -- -- -- ---- -- ------ - -------- ----- ----- ------------ - --- .. -_ .. Page 19

April 25, 1978

THE HONOURABLE SENATOR FRED A. McGRAND

CHAIRHAN

THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CHILDHOOD

EXPERIENCES AS CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

Honourable Senator:

Society has been debating the causes of crime since Cain slew Able.Although the discussion generally centres around social, psychological,economic, hereditary. and biological factors, recently more attention hasbeen paid to the roles of diet and learning disabilities as two of thepredisposing causes of abnormal behaviour.

DIETARY FACTORS,LEARNING DISABIlITIESAr\!DDITINQUEtlCY

Relation of FoodandFood Additives toBrain Activity

An increasing number of scientists and physiciansare now concluding that in many children learningdisabilities may be the result of nutritionaldeficiencies and food and other allergies. Learningdisabilities, in turn, can cause frustration, afeeling of failure and rejection, disordered personalrelationships and agressive behaviour. All of these,together with the effort to excel, at least in anegative way, may lead to juvenile delinquency.

Sufficient evidence of the connection betweenjuvenile delinquency and )earning disabilities nowexists. According to a report by Rosemary Brownl in"Canada I s ~len ta1 Health ", 80 to 90 percent ofjuvenile delinquents have a specific learningdisability problem.

It is generally known that learning disabilities depend,apart from other factors such as motivation, speechabilities, proper vision, hearing, fatique, etc., uponproper brain functions. These include concentration,attention span, ability to understand the presentedmaterial, short and long memory and the ability torecall. All of these processes are closely connectedwith biochemical reactions in the brain, especiallywith a proper balance of neurotransmitters andmetabolism of RNA and peptides ..

These metabolic processes are further dependent onother biochemical reactions such as the formation ofneurotransmitters from amino acids. The source ofamino acids is mainly food:

"You .A.re \'Jhat You Eat"

Food Allergy,I'la 1nutri t i on,Hypoglycemi aandAbnormal Behaviour

Role of FoodandFood Additives inHyperacti vity,Learning Disabilities,andMinimai Brain Dysfunc­tion

Relation of ChlorineandFlouride in Waterto Behaviour

Lack of AnimalExperiments onEffects of FoodAdd it i ves on

~r~~ ~ r

- 2 -

The metabolic processes and thus the brain functions,such as concentration, attention span, etc., can benegatively influenced by food additives. Thus, theold saying, "You are v/hat you eat", can be understoodin the light of new biochemical findings. In otherwords, the brain is part of the body, and this physicalorgan requires proper nutrients in order towork right. Since the brain houses our thoughts andemotions, and is the coordinator for our senses, achemically imbalanced brain \·,i11 express itself bydisordered thoughts (delusions) and emotional upsets,as well as disturbances in sensory perception(hallucinations).

In some individuals, the food allergy or malnutritioncan unbalance mental processes and lead to violentbehaviour. In other cases, a disorder known ashypoglycemia, a lower-than-normal level of sugar inthe blood, can trigger irrational behaviour that canbe controlled through the diet.

Dr. Bernard Weiss 2 stated the following before aIISel ect Committee on Human Needs", of the United StatesSenate: "Food additives nO\'! are claimed to contributeto the prevalence of childhood disorders designated bytenns such as hyperactivity, hyperkinesis, and minimalbrain dysfunction. Common elements of the diagnosiscriteria seem to include elevated aimless activity,difficulty in concentration, clumsiness and otherneurological deficits."

According to Dr. Ben F. Feingold, certain natural foodscontaining salicylate groups and synthetic additives,such as colours and additives, can provoke behaviouraldisturbances in children with a constitutional intoleranceto these substances. Dr. Feingold estimates that up to40 percent of the children labelled as hyperkinetic,mostly boys, are actually displaying a syndrome ofbehavioural toxicity.

In my own practice, I have repeatedly observed thathyperactive children and children with learning disabilitiescan be negatively affected, not only by food additives andfoods with salicylate groups, but also by the content ofchlorine and flourine in the water supply. Keeping thosechildren on pure water, together with avoiding processedfoods, sugar, and foods to which they are sensitive,frequently improves their behaviour and learningabilities dramatically.

Food additives are studied primarily for pathologicaleffects, that is, tissue evidence of damage, particularlycancer. The effects of food additives on the developmentof animals is also examined. Modern studies may include

~rf~~~ or ~r1~lf~~~ O~~I fOrt~ ~Iflltf fDO? indirfS

Hidden AllergensandBehaviour Changes

Composition of Premarin(including excipients)

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It is now known that low molecular chemicals producereactions. This fact has been determined by laboratoryprocedures used in the field of immunochemistry. Lowmolecular chemicals coat the cells and combine withbody protein to form complexes which possess antigenicpotential. At present, many thousands of low molecularchemicals are used as additives in preparation of food,beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical drugs. Forexample, the following is a composition of Premarin (3)which is commonly prescribed in North America tomillions of women:

PRH1ARIN 1.25 mg.

Methylcellulose 15 cpsTa1c TriturateLactose

*Magnesium StearatePolyethylene Glycol 20,000Glyceryl r'lonool eate

*ShellacCalcium SulfateTitanium DioxideStearic Acid

*Edible Black Ink (Food Grade)Canaba WaxSucroseGum AcaciaTalc

*Sodium BenzoateGelatinTween 60

*Propyl Paraben*FD&C Yellow #5Calcium CarbonateTricalcium PhosphateSolka Floc (Cellulose Type Material)Sodium AcetateSodium ChlorideNeutral Steroids

*Estrogens

*Potentia1 Sensitizers

... /4 .

Mascara Composition:

ChemicalsandBehaviour C~anges

Malignant TumoursandFood Additives

- 4 -

Another example of suca chemicals is this list ofingredients in mascara :

WaterPetroleum distillateCarnaubaCande1ill a waxPEG-20 sorbitan beeswaxTEA-LanolateAmmonium acrylates copolymer (may irritate skin)Talc (repeated inhalation can irritate lungs)BeeswaxHydrolyzed ani~al proteinPolysorbate-60Propyl ene glycolPotassium octoxynol-12 phosphateSodium lauryl sulphate (may cause skin rashes)Nonoxynol-10Quaternium-15 (irritates skin and mucous membranes;

oral doses larger than one ounce canbe fatal)

Polysorbate-20Methylparaben (can cause allergic skin reactions)PropylarabenP-hydroxyanisoleTrisodium EDTp,Phenyl mercuric acetate (can irritate skin: oral

doses larger than a taste canbe fatal)

Many chemicals can induce an allergic reaction insensitive individuals. Therefore, it is becoming moredifficult to establish etiological factors Itihich areresponsible for various hypersensitivity reactions.It has now been definitely established that hiddenallergens in the form of f"lavourings, colourings,preservative agents, excipients, antioxidants, stabilizers,emulsifiers, etc., cause a wide variety of hypersensitivityreactions, including changes in behaviour, hyperactivity,depression, conce3tration problems, and hyperirritability,to name but a few .

According to the World Health Organization TechnicalReport, on IIArtificial Food Colourings and MalignantTumours ll

, 1970, the development of malignant tumours,sarcomas, was observed in rats and mice at the site ofrepeated injections of food colours and other additives.This finding has made possible the reevaluation of colourssuch as Brilliant Blue FCS, and Fast Green FCF. Thedemonstration that many additives produce sarcomageniceffects by virtue of physical properties such assurfact activity, rather than carcinogenic potential,has made PorSible the Iccertance of ~uch materials for

Nonlay I S Ban onArtificial FoodColourings

No Data on Numbers orAmounts of Chemicalsfor Human Use

METABOLIC DEFECTSANDBRAIN DYSFUNCTIONAGGR,4VATED BYFOOD ADD ITI VES

Inhibition of EnzymeAct-ivity byFood Additives and~ack of'VitaminsFrequentlyFa 11 m-led byAbnormal Brain Function

Improvement ofBrain MetabolismandBrain Activity'by V-j tami nsandr~inerals

- 5 -

In most western countries, many varieties of foodadditives are permitted. Canada is no exception,An except'ion is Non'Jay, hOvlever, vJhich in January 1978became the fi rst country in the 1'10)'1 d to impose a totalban on artificial colouring in foodstuffs (see Appendix).

No data is available, not even from the Food and DrugDirectorilte, regal"ding the exact number of chemicalsallowed for human use or pounds of additives, artificialcolourings, flavourings and other chemicals which areadded each year to our food supply. Nor do we know howmany pounds of these chemicals our children areconsuming annually in their food.

In the face of oven~helming evidence that nutritionaldeficiencies and food additives dramatically increasethe probability of brain dysfunction in predisposed-individuals, a brief examination of such dysfunctionsmay be in order.

There are many thousands of inbo;n errors of metabolism.Most of them are characterized by an inherited enzymedefect leading to a metabolic block and furtherdisturbances of metabolism. However, the enzyme defectmay be clinically latent unless it has been furtheraggravated by additional factors. Such .factors m:lY be,for example, a lack of a vitamin acting as a coenzymeneeded for the enzyme activity or an additionalinhibition of the enzymatic activity by chemicals suchas food colourings, or other food additives. As a resultof further inhibition of the already insufficientenzymatic activity, clinically silent problems maybecome manifest and may affect the brain activity andthus behaviour.

On the utl1er hand, such enzyrnat i c defects may becOll1epartially or completely overcome by greatly increasingthe levels o"f vitamins or minerals vlhich act ascofactors for such defecti ve enzymes. Such animorovement of metabolism will usually be followed bymarked improvement or normalization of the conditionof'the affected individual.

There are also other possible mechanisms by which foodsensitivities can affect the nervous system. For example,K.E. Moyer, a psychology professor at Carnegie-MellonUniversity, claims that the pressure of the inflafTmatorys~~elling of the brain makes areas vlhich normally produceaggression more sensitive, or it activates areas thatnormally inhibit aggressive behaviour. The intensityof th~ sMmptoms may vary from irritability to psychoticreactlOn .

ORTHOMOLECULAR THERAPYANDUSEFFECTS ONBEHAVDURANDGillERAL HEALTH

PellagraandCrimina1ity

Vitamin 83NiacinIn the Treatmentof Mental Problems

SchizophreniaandCriminal ity

- 6 -

In my own experience with children, as well as adults,with so-called nervous problems, including schizophrenia,depression, etc., I have observed that dietary manipula­tion and supplementation with vitamins and minerals can 7dramatically 'influence their behaviour and general health ..

The method of treatment called orthomolecular therapyis the treatment of mental and other diseases byproviding optimal molecular concentration of substancesnormally present in the human body.

A classical example of the effect of nutritional factorson behaviour is pellagra, a disorder due to lack ofamino acid tryptophan in food leading to a vitamin 83(niacin) deficiency.

Pellagra is frequently associated with mental disturbancesranging from the neurasthenic syndrome to memoryimpairment, confusion, depression, paranoia, vi01entbehaviour or delerium. The psychotic behaviour inpellagra and schizophrenia are often so similar thatit is sometimes impossible to distinguish them by thepatient's mental condition. 8

In both pellagra and schizophrenia, the administrationof vitamin 83 in the form of niacin or niacinamide hasbeen found to improve and frequently to clear the mentalsymptoms of the patient. However, at the present timethere are still only a very limited number of psychiatristswho use niacin in the treatment and prevention ofschizophrenia.

Dr. E. Kholy9 believes that the lack of vitamin 83 (niacin)may be connected with deviant behaviour. After studyingcrime and pellagra from 1941 to 1946, he maintains, as domany researchers in this field, that pellagra can easilybe mistaken for schizophrenia. He examined 1,150 personswho had been accused of serious crimes. He found that206, or 18 percent, had pellagra. Their crimes includedmurder, threats, arson, rape, and so on. Over one thirdof those who were later declared to be insane murdererswere found to have pellagra. Dr. E. Kholy concludes:"Had pellagra been prevented by the administration ofvitamin 83, there would have been a major decrease incrimes of violence."

In a similar way, schizophrenia, which affects about oneto two percent of our population, and which occurs mostoften among young people, has frequently been found inthose who have had criminal records.

I

HypoglycemiaandCriminal ity

Orthomolecular Therapy.andPrevention of Crime

GABA"A1TATURAL TRANQUILIZER

Decreased Formationof GABAby Chlorine

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Hypoglycemia, a low blood sugar condition, has beenfound to be connected with learning problems and in someindividuals assoc15ted with brain dysrhytmias andviolent behaviour .

Therefore, we might say that, had schizophrenia,hypoglycemia, learning disabilities, alcoholism anddrug abuse been prevented, for example. by using theorthomolecular approach, including a dietary regime,there would have been a major decrease in crimes ofviolence.

Many other disorders have been found to respond toorthomolecular therapy. These include, apart fromschizophrenia, for example, hypoglycemia, hyperactivity,learning disabilities, minimal brain dysfunction,autism, alcoholism, drug addiction, and even neurosis.In the last named, symptoms such as fatigue, milddepression, insomnia, anxiety, tension and phobiasrespond to vitamin supplements and a dietary regime.

There are also some promising early indicationsof the usefulness of orthomolecular therapy in 11treating criminal offenders. Mrs. Barbara Reed ,a probation officer in Cahuga Falls, Ohio, told theU.S. Senate Co~mittee that treatment of probationerswith high nutrition diets and vitamin supplementshad been successful. For two and a half yearsMrs. Reed kept careful records of 318 probationers.She found that, of this number, 252 required vitaminsupplements. According to her testimony, not oneprobationer who stayed on the nutritional diet hadhad any further trouble with the courts.

Apart from dietary regime and supplementation withvitamins and minerals, a further promising approachto the treatment of hyperactivity and hyperirritability,including the violent behaviour and learning problems,seems to be GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). Undefnormal conditions GABA is produced in the human brainin high quantities and might be considered to be anatural tranquilizer.

GABA levels are increased by the administration ofvitamin 86 and also by Valium, the most widelyprescribed tranquilizer in North America. Formationof GABA is decreased by certain chemicals includingchlorine. In my m-m pi'actice, I have repeatedlyobserved that keeping children on pure water free fromchlorine frequently results in calmer behaviour.

GABAandHuntington's Chorea

Huntington's ChoreaandDelinquent Behaviour

GA8A:Its Bene fi cia1 Effecton Violent BehaviourandLearning Problems

Safety ofGABA

SI/10KINGANDHYPERIRRITABILITY

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A deficiency of GABA in the brain is known to beresponsible for most of the symptoms characteristic ofHuntington's Chorea (He). HC is a severe degenerativehereditary disorder of the brain. It is inheritedfrom generation to generatiori, and, in each generation,about 50 percent of fami1y members can eventually beaffected. The disease is characterized by theappearance of abnormal movements and gradual deteriorationof speech and intellect. The symptoms usually startbeti'Jeen the age of thi rty and forty, although theyare frequently preceded by hyperirritability and atendency to violence.

It has been found that 25 to 50 percent of affectedindividuals suffering from He have had criminal recordsand that delinquent behaviour occurred usually manyyears before the appearance of clinical symptoms.

Fisher and his co-workers 12 observed a striking improve­ment in the general condition of HC patients, togetherwith a decrease of choreiform movements, afteradministration of high doses of GABA. This observationpoints to the conclusion that supplementation of GABA,especially if started in the early stages of thedisease, might be beneficial in He in much the sameway as the supplementation of L-dopa can improve thecondition of many patients with Parkinson's disease.Supplementation of GABA has been accompanied by amarked decrease in irritability and a reduction of thetendency to violent outbursts.

Similarly, GABA has been known to decrease hyperritabilityin neurotics, as well as the tendency to violence injuvenile ~3l1ijq~5nts and improves their socialbehaviour ' , . Many other disor~~rs, such ashyperactivity and behaviour problemt4 '17ey§ningdisabigities and2~enta~ reta2?ation ' , ~ c22ebralpa1sy , st rokes , epll epsy and hypertens 1onalso respond favourably to treatment with GABA.

In Europe, GABA is obtainable without prescription andis used as a safe sleeping pill by pregnant women andold people. It is also used to treat children withbehaviour problems and learning disabilities. Thehuman organism can tolerate dosages of GABA as high as50,000 mg/day without any serious side effects.Unfortunately, GABA is not available at the presenttime in Canada.

Not only what we eat, but also what we drink and breathe,can affect our helath and behaviour. Such factors in ourlife style include, for example, coffee and alcohol.Another well-publicized hazard is smoking. Nor does thenon-smoker escape. It is possible for a non-smoker to

11 11

Relation BetweenEarly SmokingandBehaviour Problems

BEH,IWIOURTOXICOLOGY

Relation of ChemicalstoAbnormal Behaviour

Use of Artifi~ial

S\'Jeeteners byPregnant RatsFollowed byBrain Lesionsin Offspring

Effects of Use ofArtificial Sweetenersby Vlomen before,dUl'ing and afterPregnancy onOffspring

- 9 -

by a person neJr him. Smoking has been found to havea negative effect in the long term on concentrationability. It can also induce fluctuation of the bloodsugar level and increase hyperirritability.

It has been observed that almost 100 percent ofjuvenile delinquents are heavy smokers \'Iho usuallystarted smoking between the ages of eight and twelveyears. These findings suggest that the onset ofsmoking at an early age, when the brain is stilldeveloping, can negatively affect not only concentrationand the ability to cope with situations, but probablyalso the ability to control one's own behaviour.

Early detection of the effects of harmful chemicals(behaviour toxicology) enables the prevention oramelioration of negative ef~ects of such compoundson the developing organism . We now know thatindividuals are more vulnerable to adverse influencesduring the period of development (conception ->­puberty) than at any other time in life. This factor

adds both to the sensitivity and to the complexityof behaviour toxicology testing. Subtle functional andbehavioural disturbances in organisms exposed whileimmature may be one of the most sensitive indicatorsof chemical toxicity_

Stone et al. administered to rats approximately20 mg/kg of the artificial sweetener cyclamate daily,and found that they started to behave abnormally. Theiroffspring were hyperactive and slow to develop aresponse to food reward. Once trained, the offspringwere deficient, in comparison with the controls, intasks requiring response inhibition. These resultssuggest similarities between br~an-lesioned rats andminimal brain-damaged offspring .

Stone and his co-workers also studied the effects,ofartificial sweeteners on human offspring because in thepast decade large quantities of artificial sweetenershave been consumed by vast numbers of women before,during and after pregnancy. Using a questionnairetechnique, they gathered data \vhich suggest that theremay be a correlation between the known use ofartificial sweeteners during pregnancy and mentalretardation in the offspring. Moreover, the resultssuggest a possible connection between ingestion ofartificial sweeteners before and during pregnancy andthe incidence of various abnorma'lities even in thosechildren who were not mentally retarded.

Chemicals in theBra i n of the Foetu.s

Increased Vulnerabilityof theGrowing Organismto Chemicals

Negative Effects ofChemicals onMaternal Behaviour

Special Affinitiesof Chemi ca1s forParticular DevelopingBra i n Centers

ADVANTAGES OFORTHOMOLECULAR THERAPY

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Many chemicals entering the body of pregnant womencan be found ultimately in the foetus) includingits brain. The studies prove that:

- the immature organism does not have thesame capacity as the ad~lt to metabolizeand detoxify noxious substances

- the foetus and the newborn have not developedthe mechanisms to detoxify and excrete avariety of drugs and environmental chemicals.

Distinguishing characteristics which cause thedeveloping organism to be more vulnerable to chemicalinsult than the mature organism include the following:

- differences in metabolizing enzymes

- difference in excretory capacity

- different degree of development of protective systemssuch as blood-brain barrier, binding capacity of theserum and tissue proteins

different proportion and distribution of varioustissues

In experiments with mice, it has been shown that maternalresidual (postnatal) chemical effects may be mediateddirectly via the milk of the nursing mother, orindirectly by causing changes in the mother's behaviourleading to maternal neglect of the offspring) forexample, aberrant maternal retrieving and grooming.

It has also been found that chemicals have specialaffinities for particular developing brain centres)that the developing brain is very vulnerable to insult,and that alterations in the neural development becomemanifest as alterations in behaviour. The developmentaldeviation is thought to be of a neuroanatomical orneurochemical nature. However, since behaviourrepresents an integrated response of the organism,an impairment in the functioning of systems other thanthe nervours syste~5may also be reflected as abehavioural change .

Thus, it appears evident that a large number of chemicalsin the environment have adverse effects on the humanorganixm, including the brain, and that these adverseeffects are still more pronounced in the growingorganism. Experience has shown that the orthomolecularapproach, the use of pure food and vitamin and mineralsupplements, may reduce or overcome some of these adverseeffects and also affect beneficially such disorders ashyperactivity, hyperirritability, depression, andconcentration problems.

OTHER CONTRIBUTINGFACTORS INDELINQUENCY

Rejection of Child asPredisposing Factor toCrimi na1ity

Ambivalence toViolence

Moral Development ofOu r Ch il drenandthe r~edi a

Belson's Study onTV and ViolentBehaviour

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Orthomolecular therapy has distinct advantages:

- It is less expensive because nutrients, unlike drugs,are not patentable.

- It is safer than the use of drugs because nutrientsare natural substances which have been presentnaturally in the human body through its longevolution over millions of years.

- It is practically free from serious side effects evenwhen administered in large quantities.

- It helps to normalize conditions in the organisminstead of masking its problems.

It is widely recognized that the individual, andespecially the developing individual, is exposed to manybiological, chemical, psychological, social, economic,and other influences which may either aggravate orameliorate the negative effects of a P9ssible originalbrain dysfunction. Rosemary Undersood states: liThedisordered interpersonal relations of the MBD (minimalbrain dysfunction) child which result from initialneurological impairment and which, in turn, foster arejective intrafamilial process, are later compoundedby other factors, especially the institutions ofeducation, to desocialize some of these childrenand predispose them to criminality.1I

What we are dealing with is a chain reaction which maybe set in motion at conception and become acceleratedon a social level by many additional factors such asambivalence to violence and unhealthy life styles.For example, the exposing of children from the earliestage to television violence, the sanctioning of delinquentforms of behaviour in movies, the promoting of the useof alcohol, tobacco, and junk food in the media - allthese factors and others negatively affect the moraldevelopment of our children.

According to an article in the March 1978 issue ofPsychology Today, researcher William Belson of theSurvey Research Centre of the London School of Economicsreported in September 1977 to the British Society forthe Advancement of Science on a study of TV andviolent behaviour as follows: liThe evidence was verystrongly supportive of the hypothesis that long-termexposure to violence increases the degree to which boysengage in violence of a serious kind. The same goesfor violence of a less serious kind such as swearing andthe use of bad language, aggresiveness in sport or play,

i~r~itSltOlrr~~V~~len~~~i~~nother boy, writing slogans

- 12 -

Belson used elaborate techniques in an effort toeliminate possible causes other than TV for a differencebetween the behaviour patterns of his experimental group,called Qualifiers, and his Controls. Belson found thatsome forms of violence on TV,produce more real-lifeviolence than others. These include the following:

- Physical and verbal violence between people in thestory who have a close personal relationship.

Stories that present violence in a very realisticfashion.

- Violence committed by good guys in pursuit ofgood causes.

Violence that seems to be IIjust throvm in for itsmm sake" and does not grow out of the plot.

- VJesterns.

By contrast, Belson finds that some forms of programviolence do not appear to promote serious violence:

- Comedies that feature slapstick violence, verbal orphysical.

- Violent cartoons. Belson suggests that this kindof violence is unrealistic and next-to-impossibleto imitate.

- Sports other than boxing or wrestling.

- Science-fiction shows that include violence. Theyare usually not realistic.

Belson speculates that violent programs are more likelyto initiate violenceif they II penetrate deeply into a boy'spersonal value systems". As examples of the kinds ofshows that do this, he cites those that deal with violencein close personal relationships and that present veryrealistic violence the boy can identify "Jith. "TheUntouchables" and "Hawaii Five-O" v/ere two he mentioned.He speculates that television may lead to violent actsthrough a process of imitation. On balance, however, hebelieves his data are more consistent with the theorythat constant exposure to violent acts leads to abreakdown of inhibitions against violence.

We might add this footnote: Two years ago the Presidentof ~lexi co success fully prevail ed upon that country I sprivate television network to refrain from showingprograms glorifying violence. Canada might do wellto follow Mexico's example.

SUGGEST lOllS

Prevention ofChild Abuse

Prevention ofJuvenile Delin­quency

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Considering all of these findings on the effects of childhoodexperiences as causes of criminal behaviour, it would seemadvisable to promote:

l. Studi es on the speci fi c therapeutl c effects 0 f orthol!1ol eeul artherapy and its effect on brain functions including behaviour.

2. Longitudinal studies to assess the long term and/or delayedeffects of the chemicals in our environment on biologicalfunctions and behaviour.

3. Regular examinations of safety standards for the use of allchemicals in the light of continuing research.

4. Studies to evaluate the natural ability of the brain tometabolize GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and thecapacity of GABA to reduce violent behaviour and toimprove learning abilities.

5. Measures to ensure proper nutrition in pregnancy, childhood,and adulthood.

6. Clarification of the relationship between early smokingand delinquent behaviour.

1. All hospitals should adopt routine procedures to spot childabuse. Clearer laws on what constitutes child abuse anda uniform country-vlide system of recording such cases areneeded.

2. Suspected cases of child abuse should be reported promptlyto a central agency.

3. Senior citizens could serve as very valuable substitutegrandparents. In this capacity, they could give mothersdown-ta-earth advice on child rearing and baby-sittingrelief.

In the early seventies, every Canadian province lowered thelegal drinking age to 18 or 19. Almost immediately there.were disastrous results. In Ontario, for example, alcohol­related accidents among 16 and 17 year olds jumped by169 percent.

In 1968 a survey had found that 47 percent of all students ingrades 7 to 13 were drinking regularly; by 1974 that statistichad jumped to 73 percent.

Research is beginning to show that the soundest therapeuticapproach may come from setting out firm rules and regulationsfor children to follow. Some suggestions are:

... /14

Sucial factors

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1. Alcohol must be taken out of the schools.

2. The legal drinking age should be raised to 19or 20 in accordance with' the recommendations ofthe Addiction Research Foundation.

3. Family counselling clinics should be establishedin every province.

On the more positive side, teenagers could be givenopportunities for voluntarily improving their communities(and therefore themselves). Such service might be inday-care centres, in hospitals as Candy Stripers, innursing homes, in political party activities, and, ofcourse, in community and school sport activities. Insuch ways teenagers might become convinced of theirvalue to society, and the psychological vacuum intheir lives which they so often fill with drugs mightdi sappea r.

Along with such efforts and those designed to preventneurological impairment. our society could help toreduce criminality in the following ways:

1. By supporti ng the fami ly uni t.

2. By providing adequate child and family care programsto promote the child's emotional development.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

By teaching children the importance of human valuesrather than the acquisition of material goods.

By inculcating in the child respect for self, forothers (including parents), for authority, for theopinions and religious beliefs of others.

By fostering self discipline.

By promoting an interest in moral and spiritualvalues and inner space.

By exalting the virtues of cooperation andcompassion.

i

D (1/':( /j

Submitted byLibuse Gilka, M.D.

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1. Roscr;ldry Unden:Ciou; LeGrning Gisdbility ,15 a Prc:di:;p;):.in~l Cause ofCrir:1ifiality, (dna,la's Hcntal ~:ci1lth, (>~Jt, n-16, 191G.

2. C~rnJrd \.':~iss~ f'E'c!r-ing before the Sc;c'~t CC:-.:;;ittcE:.' 011 iilltrition cme! ~:li:;:3n

t1ec::ds of the: United States (on9:-25s, 3-]2,22 June 1977.

3. Stcphen D. Lockey Sr.~ Reactions to Hidden Agents in Food, B~verages andDrugs, f\nnals of ;illergy, 29, 46l-4G6, 1971.

~. Carol A. Kinz'lers; "Cosmetics: \·ihat the ads don't tell you." T.J. erci-iel1,NC'','! York, 1977.

5. \/orld HeCllth Orgunization Technical Report, Toxicological Evaluation 445,1-36) 1970.

G. r~.E. t'ioyel'; In: Timothy D. Schellhardt; Food Allergies and t·lalnutritionI\re Tied to Violent P,cts, \!al1 Street Journal, 9 June 1917.

7. Libuse Gi1kJ; Schizophrenia; 1\ Disorder of Tryptophan ;';et2bolism, ActaPsych. Scand., Suppl. 258) 1033, 1975.

8. \':.1\. Hir.Mich & H.E. Himwich.(1970); Nelli'8chemistry. In Freed'."''in) 1\.:'1. 8!Kap1an, H.I. (eds): Comprehensive Textbo8k of Psychidtr"y, \lil1iali1s &.\h I ki ns Co.) Ba 1t iniOl'e.

m 9. E. Kholy; In: R. t\darns, /·'1292: Vitamin Thercw.'.', Larchmont, p. 232-3, 1973 .......,..,.

10. J./\. Yeryura-Tobias, F.PI. Nejiroslu; Or·thoE,olecular Psychic:.try, Vol. 4)Nu:-nber 3, pp. 182-183,1975.

11. Barbara Reed; Hearing before the Select COi:1fiJittee on llutdtion andHU:1ian Needs of the United States Congress> S4, 22 JU!it::: 1977.

12. R. Fisher, J.W. Norris, L. Gilk~~ The Use of GA8A in Patients withHuntington's Chorea, Lancet, 1347-8, 1974.

13. F. Fabiani, P. /·1artini, F. Franceschi-Biagiotti; Osscl'vazioni clinicl1e epsicofiJetriche sull 'effetto terapeutico cli un'associZ!zione gaba-g1utamiTIina­aspartati-piridossalfosfato in un gruppo di psiconevrosici neurastenici.Riv. Ncurobiol.) Vol 15) pp. 35-62) 1969.

14. S. Tani; The Effect of GABA on Feeble-minded and Delinquent Juveniles,GaiT'.malon, 37-44, 19:;3.

15. n. Yai~lamura;. The Effect of Aminobutyric A.cid fOt' Feeble-minded and Delinqup.ntJuveniles, Garr:rnalol1, 19-35) 1953.

l16. 11. Zucchi; Osservazioni in merito alle attuali possil'i1ita di trattclinento

farr>l.colo91CO delle anomalie di compOn('.ir~nto di tipo caratt[:riale delbdrribino e del ragaz2.o. Ninerva j':cdica, 614: 45 11r2-50,1970.

17. s. r;ish-itani~ The Effects of GiU)A on rc:~bl('-'Iliilcied Child(en, Galiilnalon,5-12, 1958.

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18. S. Shimizu; Th~ Application of GABA for Congenital Feeble-~indedness andCerebral Infantile Paralysis, Gall1malon, 13-18,1958.

19. N. Kurat a; C1i ni ca1 Psych. ",: 5061, 1959 .

20. 8. f/lurakami; Some Experiences on the Appl ications of Aminobutyric AcidEspecially to Coma and Disorders Caused by Disturbed Cerebral Circulation.Gammalon, 1958, pp.53-58.

21. T. Tower; Inhibition in the Nervous Syste~, Pergaman Press, 1960.

22. H. Takahashi; Studies on Therapeutic Effects of Aminobutyric Acid onEssential Hypertension, Gammalon, 1958, pp. 45-52.

23. Joan M. Spyker; Assessing the Impact of Low Level Chemicals on DevelopmentBehavioural and Latent Effects, Federation of American Societies forExperimental Biology: Proceedings, 34:9, 1935-8, 1975.

24. David Stone et al.; Do Artificial Sweeteners Ingested in Pregnancy Affectthe Offspring? Nature, 231: 73, 1971.

25. J.t·1. Spyker; Behavioural Teratology and Toxicology. In: BehaviouralToxicology, edited by B. Weiss and V.G. Laties. New York: Plenum, 1975,p. 311-344.

.", •. " • ~,"" v , " i ~ L i i C G I..) 'J [ .j u"", [,' If. I j; L.: L '_. ill L:"":I U V U 11; r LU':. r~ et.s - 1:j.'IJ ['!"!t.PIt-iiCE~, /\i;O f{[OUC[ niL: LIKEUIlOOll OF CHH1[!;j\L LlH!\VIOIJR

Pror:..~r family plCll1niWlProl"2r' [lrenal.:;l careProper delivery carcProp:.::, postnatal careGood nutritionPt.;r\" food, I'tater and LiirVitoiilin and mineral supplcrr:':rlts (I,then indicated)Adi:1inistration of GABA (1·:il~1! indicated)

---------------t--------

P5,(C~i:JLG3Ic:r.L

r ..... 1 r,l,,'v !tIt...

Early bonding with motherEmoticilal stability of t!'!~ 1'3,TII)'

Acccpt,2.nce of the inJividLl~l as he isFreedom from excessive stressReligious and/or spil'itual beliefSe: f discipl ir\eStriving for self irnprovefl10ntVolunteer \'wrk in social organizationsInvolvement in useful workFe:::l'ing to be a val id member of societyProper parental interst in education

Good quality of education facilitiesPr'oper education opportunitiesProp:::)' cmplcym:::ilt opportt..:nitiesFinancial freedorn

Supporting family unitInvolvement of children and t2enagers in

- crime prevention \'Iithin a COr;li;lUnity- corHllunity \'lOrk (care of old t( $ick people, etc.)

Education in- basic life skills (e.g. pOliteness, ability to dealwith people. etc.)

- fami 1y 1i fechild rearing - in schools

- premarital courses- in prenatal classes- hospitals (after delivery)- in schools as a part of progl'am for

parent nJeetin9s- value of good l',utrition (in sc11001s, courses, media)

To teach chi 1dren - respect for other hur:~an bei ngs- respect for authority

moral values, mainly compassionAvoidance of - violence in the media

- harmful advertising, e.g. cigarettes, liquor- junk food in schools- violent gafll2s

Consistent parental and school disciplineBetter reporting of child abuseBetter training for those in the fields of medicine, la~'1 and

sociJ1 I'Jork 1n the 'eight.s 2.nd lIeeds of the childPublic policy that it is a (;r"il':e aqainst humanity to prod:Jcp

children that cannot be adequately Cd red for