Iron deficiency increases the risk of postpartum depression

Abstract

Background and Objective: Maternal iron deficiency anemia is thought to be related to postpartum depressive in biology pathway. Ferritin is the first test to become abnormal as iron stores decrease and it is not affected by recent iron ingestion. Furthermore, iron deficiency anemia also can decrease Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which play role in sinaps plasticity in neuron. The purpose of this study is to determinate difference of maternal BDNF and total score Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) between low and normal ferritin among pregnant women. Methods and Study Design: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design at Health Center Care Lubuk Buaya Padang and Biomedical Laboratory Faculty of Medicine Andalas University in Indonesia in November 2016 to June 2017. Samples in this study are 72 pregnant women in 37 until 42 weeks pregnancy were divided to 2 groups which are low (< 12 ng/mL) and normal ferritin (≥ 12 ng/mL). Ferritin and BDNF measured with ELISA after examination and EPDS were assessed at 2 weeks after delivery. Data analysed using independent t test.