Abstract
A growing body of clinical and epidemiological evidence suggests that low dietary intake and/or tissue levels of n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are associated with postpartum depression. Low tissue levels of n-3 PUFAs, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are reported in patients with either postpartum or nonpuerperal depression. Moreover, the physiological demands of pregnancy and lactation put childbearing women at particular risk of experiencing a loss of DHA from tissues including the brain, especially in individuals with inadequate dietary n-3 PUFA intake or suboptimal metabolic capabilities. Animal studies indicate that decreased brain DHA in postpartum females leads to several depression-associated neurobiological changes including decreased hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and augmented hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to stress. Taken together, these findings support a role for decreased brain n-3 PUFAs in the multifactorial etiology of depression, particularly postpartum depression. These findings, and their implications for research and clinical practice, are discussed.
Highlights
Postpartum depression is a potentially devastating disorder that occurs in 10%–20% of childbearing women [1,2,3]
A growing body of evidence suggests that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) status may contribute to the development of postpartum depression
Preclinical outcomes of interest were the effects of manipulations of dietary or tissue n-3 PUFA status on neurobiological systems known to be altered in depression
Summary
Postpartum depression is a potentially devastating disorder that occurs in 10%–20% of childbearing women [1,2,3]. The etiology remains to be fully elucidated; it is complex, most likely heterogeneous, and probably involves the interaction of environmental factors and genetic predispositions, with pregnancy or childbirth as the triggering event [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Postpartum depression can lead to recurrent depressive episodes, negatively affect the development of the infant, and in severe instances, lead to maternal suicide or infanticide [14,15,16]. There is a critical need to elucidate causes and risk factors of this disorder that affects the health and well-being of both mothers and infants in order to identify means of prevention or treatment. Its implications for research and clinical practice, is reviewed here
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