An Exploratory Study of Postpartum Depression and Vitamin D - May 2010

by: Pamela K. Murphy, Martina Mueller, Thomas C. Hulsey, Myla D. Ebeling, Carol L. Wagner
J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, Vol. 16, No. 3. (1 May 2010), pp. 170-177.

BACKGROUND: Low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), a reliable measurement of vitamin D, have been implicated in several mood disorders. To date, studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and postpartum depression are absent from the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a relationship exists between symptoms associated with postpartum depression and vitamin D levels and to determine if serum 25(OH) D levels can predict the incidence of symptoms associated with postpartum depression.

STUDY DESIGN: An exploratory, descriptive study using a convenience sample of 97 postpartum women attending seven monthly visits. Women provided serum 25(OH)D samples and completed the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) at each visit.

RESULTS: A significant relationship over time was found between low 25(OH)D levels and high EPDS scores, indicative of postpartum depression.

CONCLUSIONS: Future rigorous studies investigating vitamin D and postpartum depression are warranted with larger sample sizes using confirmatory methods to diagnose postpartum depression. 10.1177/1078390310370476

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Depression dropped off more quickly in those women with more vitamin D

Each visit = 1 month

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Previous study co-authored by Wagner

Vitamin D and mood disorders among women: an integrative review.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2008 Sep-Oct;53(5):440-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2008.04.014.
Murphy PK, Wagner CL.
Medical University of South Carolina, 169 Ashley Ave., P.O. Box 250347, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. murphypa@musc.edu

This integrative review evaluates research studies that investigated the association between vitamin D and mood disorders affecting women to determine whether further research comparing these variables is warranted. A literature search using CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases was conducted to locate peer-reviewed mood disorder research studies that measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels. Four of six studies reviewed imparted significant results, with all four showing an association between low 25(OH)D levels and higher incidences of four mood disorders: premenstrual syndrome, seasonal affective disorder, non-specified mood disorder, and major depressive disorder. This review indicates a possible biochemical mechanism occurring between vitamin D and mood disorders affecting women, warranting further studies of these variables using rigorous methodologies.

PMID: 18761297

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See also VitaminDWiki

• Pregnant blacks 50 % more likely to be depressed if 3 ng less vitamin D – July 2012
• All items in category Depression and Vitamin D 261 items
• postpartum depression 99 items as of Jan 2018
• Depression category listing has 261 items along with related searches
• Increased incidence of depression – perhaps due to lower vitamin D
• 99 percent of psychiatric population had less than 30 ng of vitamin D – June 2013
• 2X more likely to be depressed if low vitamin D (cohort studies) - Meta-analysis Jan 2013
• Antidepressants might increase infertility and pregnancy problems – Nov 2012
• Depression 50 percent more likely if low vitamin D in early pregnancy – Aug 2012
• Pregnant blacks 50 pcnt more likely to be depressed if 3 ng less vitamin D – July 2012
• Postpartum depression 7X more likely if less than 10 ng of vitamin D – Sept 2014