Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2011;4(3):120-36.

Nutrition health issues in self-reported postpartum depression.

Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench

Sabine Hogg-Kollars, Denise Mortimore, Sarah Snow

PMID: 24834169 PMCID: PMC4017421

Abstract

AIM: In this retrospective survey women with and without self-reported postpartum depression (PPD) were compared in regards to consumption-frequency of foods and supplements rich in nutrients beneficial to nervous system (NS) health, in regards to consumption-frequency of compounds which may counteract the effect of the above and in regards to nutritional support provided to them during a pregnancy between 2003 and 2008.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum depression (PPD) is defined as a major depressive episode that begins within 1 month of delivery and is experienced by roughly 13% of mothers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four Hundred participants were recruited through the internet. Data gathered via multiple choice questionnaires was statistically analyzed using SPSS and Statistical software; statistical procedures included discriminant analysis, Pearson's product moment correlation, independent t-test and cross-tabulations.

RESULTS: Out of 400 participants 83 (20.8%) were affected by self-reported depression after a pregnancy between 2003 and 2008. Depressed subjects consumed oily fish and offal significantly more often than non depressed subjects. Depression was more prevalent among women with vegetarian diets. No significant difference concerning food group intake or the ratios between foods rich in nutrients beneficial to NS health and foods rich in compounds antagonising their effect were found between depressed and non depressed subjects. Iron supplementation correlated positively with zinc supplementation in both groups. Roughly 70% of women reported to have received no information about n-3 fatty acid fish oils during pregnancy; informed subjects consumed fish oils more often. The majority of subjects with self-reported depression described nutritional support during pregnancy as inadequate.

CONCLUSION: Within this Austrian sample, the prevalence rate of postpartum depression was high; while the consumption of oily fish and vegetarian diets negatively correlated with depression, Patient information positively correlated with the consumption of fish oil supplements. These results indicate that further studies will be required in order to establish the exact relationship between nutrition and mental health during and after pregnancy.

Keywords: Consumer health information; Depression postpartum; Diet; Maternal nutrition physiology; Mental health

References

1. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996 Aug;36(3):313 - PubMed
2. BMJ. 1992 Jul 18;305(6846):152-6 - PubMed
3. Am J Epidemiol. 1998 Dec 15;148(12):1157-9; discussion 1162-5 - PubMed
4. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 May;71(5 Suppl):1334S-43S - PubMed
5. Ann Intern Med. 1984 Feb;100(2):258-68 - PubMed
6. Arch Intern Med. 2002 May 13;162(9):981-4 - PubMed
7. Nurs Res. 2000 Sep-Oct;49(5):272-82 - PubMed
8. J Affect Disord. 2006 Feb;90(2-3):131-9 - PubMed
9. Psychosomatics. 1998 Mar-Apr;39(2):93-101 - PubMed
10. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jul;72(1 Suppl):280S-290S - PubMed
11. Br Med J. 1976 Aug 21;2(6033):457 - PubMed
12. Birth. 2006 Dec;33(4):323-31 - PubMed
13. J Am Diet Assoc. 1991 Jan;91(1):96-8 - PubMed
14. Birth. 1999 Sep;26(3):157-63 - PubMed
15. Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Nov 1;58(9):679-85 - PubMed
16. Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Aug 15;160(4):339-49 - PubMed
17. Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Jun;150:782-6 - PubMed
18. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 Jan;45(1):122-5 - PubMed
19. Am J Epidemiol. 2001 Dec 15;154(12):1136-42 - PubMed
20. West J Med. 1992 Nov;157(5):544-53 - PubMed
21. Public Health Nutr. 2007 May;10(5):436-42 - PubMed
22. J Affect Disord. 2002 May;69(1-3):15-29 - PubMed

Publication Types

• Journal Article