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Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in prevention and treatment of maternal depression: Putative mechanism and recommendations
This review conducted by Hsu et al. (2018) evaluated the effect of supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid on depression during pregnancy or in postpartum depression directly after childbirth. In addition to studies that measured dietary intake and plasma and/or milk levels of omega-3 fatty acids, the reviewers selected several trials demonstrating the impact of omega-3 fatty acids supplements on pregnant or postpartum women with depression. One of the risk factors of postpartum depression is omega-3 fatty acid deficiency, which becomes depleted quickly during pregnancy and lactation. Some studies reported associations between neuroinflammation (elevated proinflammatory cytokines) and aberrant neurotransmission (low serotonergic transmission activity) with risk of developing postpartum depression. There is evidence that supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-rich oil can reduce depression during pregnancy as well as postpartum depression following childbirth. It was also highlighted that long-term treatment with DHA-enriched oil may be effective in reducing postpartum depression risk in healthy women but may not be as effective in lactating women. But when this oil was taken throughout pregnancy and even after childbirth, no beneficial effect was observed. To summarize, dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids rich in EPA during pregnancy or postpartum reduces symptoms related to depression, while DHA supplementation reduces the risk of postpartum depression when administered to healthy pregnant women. [NPID: postpartum mental health, nutrients in pregnancy, pregnancy, omega-3s, polyunsaturated fatty acids, fatty acids, plasma, milk levels, omega-3s, neuroinflammation, proinflammatory cytokines, postpartum depression, lactation, EPA, DHA]
Year: 2018
