title: Fish consumption, not fatty acid status, is related to quality of life in a healthy population.
abstract: Depressive symptoms in the community have a considerable impact on quality of life. Although long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) have frequently been implicated in depressed mood, their relationship with quality of life has scarcely been investigated. This study examined the cross-sectional associations between fish consumption and plasma phospholipid LCPUFA status on the one hand, and quality of life, as measured by the Short Form 36 questionnaire, on the other in a population-based sample. The mental health component of quality of life was not associated with LCPUFA status or fish consumption. Fish consumption showed a positive association with physical well-being, which remained significant after correction for LCPUFA status, suggesting that the relationship between fish consumption and physical well-being is independent of the LCPUFA content of fish. These findings indicate that fish consumption may serve as a proxy for a healthy lifestyle or a favorable nutritional status, which is reflected in better quality of life.
authors.affiliation: School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS)/European Graduate School for Neuroscience (EURON), Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. olga.schiepers@np.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: O J G
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Schiepers
authors.forename: R H M
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolles
authors.forename: M P J
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van Boxtel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005396:Fish Products; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated