Fish Oil Promising Against Postpartum Depression in Small Trial

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Fish Oil Promising Against Postpartum Depression in Small Trial

Moms who took capsules during pregnancy had fewer symptoms, but

more study needed

Posted: April 12, 2011

TUESDAY, April 12 (HealthDay News) -- Consuming omega-3 fatty

acids in fish oil capsules during pregnancy may reduce a woman's

risk of postpartum depression, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at 52 pregnant women who took either a

placebo or a fish oil capsule containing 300 milligrams of

docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) five days a week each week from weeks

24 to 40 of pregnancy. DHA is a prominent omega-3 fatty acid.

After the babies were born, the researchers

assessed the women for postpartum depression symptoms, such as

sleeping and eating problems, anxiety, emotional issues,

confusion, guilt, loss of self and thoughts of suicide.

There weren't enough women in the study to determine if

consuming DHA resulted in a lower incidence of postpartum

depression. But women who took the fish oil capsules had

significantly fewer symptoms of postpartum depression than those

who took the placebo, said Dr. Price Judge, of the

University

of Connecticut School of Nursing, and colleagues.

"DHA consumption during pregnancy at levels that are reasonably

attained from foods has the potential to decrease symptoms of

postpartum depression," they concluded in a news release from

the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

But one expert said the jury is still out on fish oil's ability

to curb postpartum blues.

"This study is interesting but must be replicated on a larger

scale with proper controls for a number of medical and

psychosocial factors before concluding that omega-3 fatty acid

consumption lowers the risk of postpartum depression," said Dr.

Shari I. Lusskin, director of reproductive psychiatry at NYU

Langone Medical Center in New York City.

"In the meanwhile," she said, "following a healthy

diet

can only be a good thing for the pregnant woman and her

developing baby."

The study was to be presented Tuesday at a meeting of the

federation in Washington, D.C. Research presented at meetings is

considered preliminary until it is published in a peer-reviewed

journal.

Postpartum depression affects up to 25 percent of new mothers,

some experts estimate.

More information

The Nemours Foundation has more about postpartum depression.

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