Vegetable oils linked to violent behaviour

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Vegetable oils linked to violent behaviour: Study finds they may counter the

calming effects of fish

March 21, 2005

National Post

A2

Tom Blackwell

A surprising new study of crime and diet trends in Canada and four other

countries was cited as suggesting that homicide rates climb as people consume

more linoleic fatty acid, a nutrient found in common bean, seed and grain oils.

U.S. scientists behind the study suspect linoleic fatty acid dampens the impact

of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, which seem to stave off violent behaviour.

More research is needed to confirm the latest findings. But cutting consumption

of linoleic fatty acid might prove a cheap way of reducing the " pandemic " of

violence in Western countries, just as diet changes are combating heart disease,

says a recently published paper in the journal Lipids.