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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Urinary cortisol and depression in early pregnancy: role of adiposity and race

Authors: John W Luiza, Marcia J Gallaher, Robert W Powers

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2015

Abstract

Background

Depression before and during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight and preterm birth. Abnormal maternal cortisol has been hypothesized as one mediator between depression and adverse birth outcomes. The relationship between cortisol and depression in pregnancy is exhibited most strongly in the African American population, and most studies have focused either on circulating or placental levels of cortisol. The utility of urinary cortisol in early pregnancy related to depression and adiposity has not been investigated.

Methods

Twenty-five pregnant African American women identified by the Edinburgh Depression Scale as having depression were investigated and matched by body mass index (BMI), age, race, and infant birth weight centile to non-depressed subjects. Maternal urine and plasma cortisol in early pregnancy were quantified and investigated in relation to depression and adiposity.

Results

Morning urine cortisol levels tracked positively with plasma cortisol (r² = 0.25, p < 0.001). However, no differences were observed in either urinary or plasma cortisol between depressed and non-depressed pregnant women. Plasma cortisol was significantly negatively associated with several measures of maternal adiposity including percent body fat (r² = −0.10, p < 0.05), however this relationship was present only in the non-depressed women. In a post-hoc analysis, non-depressed non-obese women were found to have significantly higher cortisol levels compared to women with depression, obesity or both (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Depressed pregnant women and non-depressed obese pregnant women evidence atypical cortisol levels compared to non-depressed non-obese pregnant women. Plasma cortisol in early pregnancy is negatively associated with measures of maternal adiposity. Atypical low circulating maternal cortisol among depressed (lean and obese) and non-depressed obese pregnant African American women may indicate hypothalamic-pituitary axis dysfunction in early pregnancy.

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Title: Urinary cortisol and depression in early pregnancy: role of adiposity and race
Authors: John W Luiza
Marcia J Gallaher
Robert W Powers
Publication date: 01-12-2015
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0466-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Urinary cortisol and depression in early pregnancy: role of adiposity and race

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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