Glucose metabolism may influence violence in antisocial men

Abnormal glucose metabolism may play a role in repeat offending by antisocial men, according to a new Finnish study.

Matti Virkkunen and colleagues measured glucose metabolism in 49 impulsive, violent, antisocial male offenders. The researchers report, “Those offenders who committed at least one new violent crime during the eight-year follow-up had a mean non-oxidative glucose metabolism (NOG) 1.4 standard deviations lower than non-recidivistic offenders.” NOG data alone, they say, could explain 27 percent of the variation in repeat offending.

The researchers conclude that altered glucose metabolism “may be a crucial component in the pathophysiology of habitually violent behavior among subjects with antisocial personality disorder.” They suggest that treatments that normalize glucose metabolism may help reduce impulsive violence in this population.