@article {Blunden:2012-03-01T00:00:00:1756-834X:5, author = "Blunden, Christelle H and Inskip, Hazel M and Robinson, Sian M and Cooper, Cyrus and Godfrey, Keith M and Kendrick, Tony R", title = "Postpartum depressive symptoms: the B-vitamin link", journal = "Mental Health in Family Medicine", volume = "9", number = "1", year = "2012-03-01T00:00:00", abstract = " Objective: This study examined longitudinal relationships between maternal red-cell folate status and dietary intakes of vitamins B6, B12 and folate before and during pregnancy and subsequent postpartum depressive symptoms. Study design and setting Within a cohort study of women aged 20–34 years (the Southampton Women's Survey) dietary data were obtained before pregnancy and at 11 and 34 weeks' gestation. Red-cell folate was measured before pregnancy and at 11 weeks' gestation. We derived relative risks of postpartum depressive symptoms using an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of ≥13 administered from 6 months to 1 year postpartum.

Results: No significant differences were found between those with postpartum depressive symp- toms (n = 905) and those without (n = 1951) in relation to red-cell folate concentration or dietary intake of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, before or during pregnancy. A prior history of mental illness (relative risk (RR) 1.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53–2.19) was associated with postpartum depressive symptoms, and women who breastfed until 6 months were less likely to experience postpartum depressive symptoms (RR 0.68; 95% CI 0.55–0.84).

Conclusion: This study suggests that folate status and dietary folate, B6 and B12 intakes before and during pregnancy are not associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. A history of mental illness, however, was a strong risk factor.", pages = "5-13", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rmp/mhfm/2012/00000009/00000001/art00002", keyword = "FOLATE STATUS, POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, B-VITAMIN INTAKE" }