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Cited by 74Fatty Acid Research and HealthMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumNutritional Studies and Diet

Fish and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes during pregnancy and risk of postpartum depression: a prospective study based on a large national birth cohort

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Strøm, Marin, Mortensen, Erik L, Halldorsson, Thorhallur I, Thorsdottir, Inga, Olsen, Sjúrdur F·2009·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27552
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Abstract

Background Mothers may be reluctant to receive medical treatment of postpartum depression (PPD), despite the detrimental consequences the disorder can impose on mother and child. Research on alternative methods of prevention and treatment of PPD is warranted. Previous studies have suggested that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) might have a beneficial effect on depression. Objective The objective was to explore the association between intake of fish and n-3 PUFAs during pregnancy and PPD in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Design Exposure information from the DNBC was linked to the Danish patient and prescription registries for data on clinically identified cases of depression up to 1 y postpartum. Intake of fish and n-3 PUFAs was assessed in midpregnancy with a food-frequency questionnaire. Admission to the hospital for PPD (PPD-admission) and prescription of antidepressants (PPD-prescription) were treated as separate outcomes. A total of 54,202 women were included in the present study sample. Results Rates of depression were 0.3% (PPD-admission) and 1.6% (PPD-prescription). No association was observed between fish intake and risk of PPD-admission [crude odds ratio of 1.01 (95% CI: 0.52, 1.97) and adjusted odds ratio of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.42, 1.64)], whereas a higher risk of PPD-prescription was found for the lowest compared with the highest fish intake group [crude odds ratio of 1.61 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.06) and adjusted odds ratio of 1.46 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.90)]. No association was observed with respect to n-3 PUFA intake. Conclusion Overall, our data from a large prospective cohort linked with high-quality registers showed little evidence to support an association between intake of fish or n-3 PUFAs and PPD.

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  • Studies on seafood intake and perinatal depressive symptoms have mixed results.

    “Studies investigating the relationship between seafood intake and perinatal depressive symptoms have been mixed, with some demonstrating an inverse relationship between the two [28] and others reporting no such relationship [29].”

    From Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for perinatal depression (2014) · cites this paper as [29]

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Authors
Strøm, M., Mortensen, E. L., Halldorsson, T. I., Thorsdottir, I., & Olsen, S. F.
Affiliations
Statens Serum Institut (DK)
Corresponding author
Strøm, Marin
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-07
Volume
90
Issue
1
Pages
149-155
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3945/ajcn.2009.27552
OpenAlex
W2135201319
Cited by
74
References
40
Citations by year
2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 2
FWCI
7.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • March of Dimes Foundation
  • Hjerteforeningen
  • Sundhed og Sygdom, Det Frie Forskningsråd
  • European Commission (FOOD-CT-2005, #506359)
  • National Research Foundation
  • Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
  • Granskingarráðið
  • Medical Research Council
  • Statens Serum Institut
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
postpartum depression, fish consumption, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, pregnancy, maternal diet, antidepressant prescribing, birth cohort
MeSH terms
Animals, Denmark, Female, Fishes, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Maternal Age, Meat, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Smoking, Social Class, Social Support, Cohort Studies, Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Depression, Postpartum

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