Omega-3s Reduce Risk Of Postpartum Depression
Pregnant women who don’t get adequate levels of omega-3s in their diets may have a higher risk of po…Pregnant women who don’t get adequate levels of omega-3s in their diets may have a higher risk of postpartum depression, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
According to the review led by Gabriel Shapiro at the University of Montreal and the Research Centre at the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child Hospital, there could be a link between pregnancy, omega-3 and the chemical reaction that enables serotonin, a mood regulator, to be released into the brain. Because omega-3 is transferred from the mother to the fetus and later to the breastfeeding infant, maternal omega-3 levels decrease during pregnancy, and remain lowered for at least six weeks following the birth. He noted that in addition to the specific biological circumstances of pregnant women, it has been found in the United States that most people do not consume sufficient amounts of omega-3.
“These findings suggest that new screening strategies and prevention practices may be useful," Shapiro said, noting that the study was preliminary and the further research would be needed to clarify the link and identify the reasons for it.
In 2010, Norway’s National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) began a study to investigate whether a higher intake of seafood in the diet could lower the incidence of postpartum depression. Previous trials have suggested there is a correlation between seafood intake and mental health, with a lower incidence of postnatal depression in countries where the population consumed the most seafood.
