August 19/Maastricht, Netherlands/Health & Medicine Week -- "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," scientists in the Netherlands report.

"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," wrote O.J.G. Schiepers and colleagues, Maastricht University.

The researchers concluded, "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."

Schiepers and colleagues published their study in Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids ("Fish Consumption, Not Fatty Acid Status, is Related to Quality of Life in a Healthy Population." Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2010;83(1):31-35).

For more information, contact O.J.G. Schiepers, Maastricht University, School Mental Health & Neuroscience MHeNS, European Graduate School Neuroscience EURON, Dept. of Psychiatry & Neuropsychol, POB 616, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands.

From the August 23, 2010, Prepared Foods' Daily News
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