THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION IN BRITISH MIDDLE MANAGERS - A DOUBLE-BLIND PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

In order to examine the influence of dietary supplements on health rel ated quality of life (QOL), a double blind controlled trial was carrie d out with 95 middle managers. After an eight week trial, those taking dietary supplements, in comparison to participants in the placebo con dition, showed more significant improvements in vigour-activity on the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and on the overall strain sub-scales o f the Multi-modal Stress questionnaire (MMSQ). For those on a relative ly poor diet only, there was a significant difference between those ta king dietary supplements and those in the placebo condition on the sub -scales of tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, vigour-activity, confusio n-bewilderment and on overall mood on the POMS. There was also a more significant improvement on the sub-scales of physical strain, behaviou ral strain, cognitive strain and on overall strain on the Multi-Modal stress questionnaire. It is concluded that for those on a relatively p oor diet, dietary supplements may improve health related quality of li fe.