Nutritional assessments in pregnancy and the risk of postpartum depression in Chinese women: A case-control study

Prevalence of postpartum depression (PD) in Chinese women is rising and its associated factors are not well known. In this study we aim to explore the associations between nutritional factors in pregnancy and the risk of PD in Chinese women. A case-control study was performed in our hospital during January 2016 to June 2019. A food frequency questionnaire was designed to collect food consumption before the childbirth preceding month. Nutrition related biochemical indicators including fasting blood-glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and uric acid in the third trimester of pregnancy were detected. Logistic regression model was applied to compute odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). There were 565 participants in this study, which comprised 182 individuals with PD and 383 individuals without. Patients with PD had higher odds of increased GLU (OR=2.62, 95%CI = 1.67–4.11), TC (OR = 1.73 95%CI = 1.22–2.46), TG (OR = 2.43, 95%CI = 1.55–3.81), and LDL (OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 2.09–5.57), but decreased HDL (OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 2.09–5.57) during pregnancy. With respect to uric acid, there was lack of no statistical association (OR = 2.23, 95%CI = 0.82–6.26). Food frequency questionnaire indicated a higher meat intake, but a lower vegetable, fruit, fish, and poultry intake in patients with PD during pregnancy. Increased GLU, TC, TG, and LDL, but decreased HDL in later stages of pregnancy might be associated with PD.