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. 2012 May;28(2):189-95.
doi: 10.1177/0890334411424727. Epub 2012 Jan 4.

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the concentration of fatty acids in breast milk

Sarah A Keim  1 , Julie L Daniels, Anna Maria Siega-Riz, Nancy Dole, Amy H Herring, Peter C Scheidt
Affiliations

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy and the concentration of fatty acids in breast milk

Sarah A Keim et al. J Hum Lact. 2012 May.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the association between depressive symptoms in pregnancy and the concentration of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) in breast milk. Women (n = 287) enrolled in the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Study completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in pregnancy (< 20 and 24-29 weeks) and had LCPUFAs measured in breast milk (4 months postpartum). Multiple linear regression was used to examine associations between depressive symptoms and breast milk LCPUFAs. Increasing depressive symptoms at < 20 weeks were associated with lower docosahexaenoic acid concentrations (adjusted β = -1.15, 95% confidence interval = -2.12, -0.19). No similar associations were observed with other fatty acids nor between symptoms at 24-29 weeks and LCPUFAs. Depressive symptoms, even in the subclinical range, early in pregnancy are inversely associated with breast milk docosahexaenoic acid. This may have implications for the timing of screening and interventions for perinatal depression and the nutritional value of breast milk.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Breast milk concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; percentage of total fatty acids, log-transformed) by depressive symptoms score (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CES-D]), adjusted for age, education, income, smoking, parity, and laboratory: A, < 20 weeks of pregnancy (n = 287); B, 24–29 weeks of pregnancy (n = 287).
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