Pilot trial evaluating maternal docosahexaenoic acid consumption during pregnancy: Decreased postpartum depressive symptomatology

Objective: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6, n-3) is a major structural component of neural tissue critical to neurotransmission and mood regulation. Poor maternal dietary intake coupled with accelerated maternal-fetal transfer of DHA compound risk for maternal deficiency. The objective of this investigation was to determine if maternal DHA supplementation is efficacious in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression. Methods: This pilot investigation was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled investigation of the role of DHA in preventing risk for postpartum depression. Women were assigned to: i) Placebo (no DHA, corn oil capsule), ii) DHA (300 mg DHA, fish oil capsule). Capsules were consumed from 24 to 40 weeks gestation (1 capsule 5 days/week). Forty-two participants were recruited (n = 20, intervention; n = 22, placebo). Maternal DHA status and depressive symptoms were followed from 24 to 40 weeks gestation using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) from 2 weeks to 6 months postpartum. Results: PDSS total scores were significantly lower (p = 0.016; 46.03 ± 2.17, intervention vs. 52.11 ± 2.4, placebo) in the intervention group with less anxiety/insecurity (p = 0.03), emotional lability (p = 0.04) and loss of self (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Women in the DHA intervention group had fewer symptoms of postpartum depression compared to the placebo group. These results support the notion that the consumption of DHA by pregnant women can be efficacious in preventing depressive symptoms and highlight a need for further larger-scale investigations using the PDSS in tandem with a diagnostic evaluation.