NCJ Number
91085
Date Published
1982
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Various nutritional and related biochemical imbalances, together with environmental sensitivities, can contribute directly or indirectly to spouse abuse.
Abstract
A complete physiological workup of actual or potential batterers can be of significant value in over 43 percent of the cases. Two important diagnostic techniques are hair trace mineral and metal analysis and a complete computer-analyzed nutritional evaluation. Hair analysis shows how the body uses, stores, and disposes of some essential and nonessential elements. A nutritional intake study evaluates the dietary consumption patterns and estimated nutrient intake as compared to nutrient requirements. Analysis of 600 normals to batterers revealed a consistent pattern of either nutrient intake deficiencies or overconsumption malnutrition. A 26-year old male who had beaten his wife with increasing seriousness had toxic levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and aluminum in his hair. His zinc, sodium, and potassium levels were significantly low. His nutritional analysis showed his diet to be deficient in folic acid, manganese, and Vitamin A. He consumed low levels of other nutrients as well. Modification of his diet and of the conditions in his working environment resulted in a dramatic improvement in his behavior. In other cases, inadequate zinc levels, excessive consumption of caffeine, and allergies to products used to make alcoholic beverages were related to battering behavior, which subsided upon appropriate dietary changes. Additional studies have found that 57 to 75 percent of cases of serious marital discord entail treatable biochemical imbalances that appeared to provoke the negative behavior. Programs dealing with batterers should consider biochemical imbalances as possible contributing factors. Forty references are listed.