Nutrients and Postpartum Mental Health (Maternal Diet and Child Development)

In this 2021 study, 41 new mothers were given dietary flavonoids daily for 2 weeks. Foods rich in flavonoids have so far demonstrated positive effects on mood among healthy children, adolescents, and adults. This study tested flavonoids on mothers within 0-12 months of giving birth to a child since the postnatal period is a particularly vulnerable time for changes in mood and developing disorders such as postnatal depression. The treatment randomization ensured that some women participated in the flavonoid intervention, while others did not make any additions to their diet. At the 2-week time point, the flavonoid intervention group reported significantly lower state anxiety and higher perceived quality of physical health. These results suggest that regular consumption of flavonoid-containing foods may improve mothers’ anxiety and perceived quality of life in the postnatal period. If these findings are replicated, ingesting dietary flavonoids may be an effective strategy for enhancing maternal mood and possibly for preventing the onset or severity of symptoms in postnatal psychological disorders.