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Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Prenatal micronutrient supplementation and postpartum depressive symptoms in a pregnancy cohort

Authors: Brenda MY Leung, Bonnie J Kaplan, Catherine J Field, Suzanne Tough, Misha Eliasziw, Mariel Fajer Gomez, Linda J McCargar, Lisa Gagnon, and the APrON Study Team

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2013

Abstract

Background

Postpartum depression is a serious problem for women and their offspring. Micronutrient supplements are recommended for pregnant women because of their documented protective effects for the offspring, but their potential beneficial effects on maternal mental health are unknown. This study investigated the association between prenatal micronutrient supplementation and the risk for symptoms of postpartum depression in a longitudinal pregnancy cohort from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study.

Methods

Participants came from a cohort of the first 600 APrON women. Supplemental nutrient intake and symptoms of depression (measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) were collected at each trimester and 12 weeks postpartum.

Results

Of the 475 participants who completed the EPDS at least twice in pregnancy and at 12 weeks postpartum, 416 (88%) scored <10 and 59 (12%) scored ≥10, where an EPDS ≥10 is considered to be “at least probable minor depression”. Mean nutrient intakes from supplements were higher in women with lower EPDS scores, particularly selenium (p = 0.0015) and omega-3s (p = 0.01). Bivariate analyses showed that several demographic and social/lifestyle variables were associated with EPDS ≥10: not having been born in Canada (p = 0.01), greater number of chronic conditions (p = 0.05), greater number of stressful life events during this pregnancy (p = 0.02), and lower prenatal and postnatal support (p = 0.0043 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Adjusting for covariates and nutrients known to be associated with postpartum depression, logistic regression showed that having a prenatal EPDS ≥ 10 increased the odds of postpartum depressive symptoms (second and third trimester OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.55 - 7.01, p = 0.004 and OR = 4.26, 95% CI = 2.05 - 8.85, p < 0.0001, respectively), while prenatal supplemental selenium (per 10 mcg, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.74 - 0.78, p = 0.0019) and postnatal social support (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78 - 0.97, p = 0.0015) were protective.

Conclusions

Multiple factors, including supplementary selenium intake, are associated with the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms. Future research on dietary supplementation in pregnancy with special attention to selenium intake is warranted.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/13/2/prepub

Title: Prenatal micronutrient supplementation and postpartum depressive symptoms in a pregnancy cohort
Authors: Brenda MY Leung
Bonnie J Kaplan
Catherine J Field
Suzanne Tough
Misha Eliasziw
Mariel Fajer Gomez
Linda J McCargar
Lisa Gagnon
and the APrON Study Team
Publication date: 01-12-2013
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-2

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Prenatal micronutrient supplementation and postpartum depressive symptoms in a pregnancy cohort

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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