Health Hotline Magazine | May 2023

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K y S p l m n s t T k o t P r u

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P s n t l M l i i a i . Pregnancy, and then nursing, take a lot from the mother’s nutrient reserves. Breastfeeding in particular increases a woman’s nutritional requirements. One 2021 study concluded that lactating mothers were at risk of micronutrient deficiency and that nutrient intakes were lower than the recommended amounts in up to 70 percent of the mothers. A quality postnatal multivitamin is formulated specifically for the nutrient needs of the post-partum and lactating body and, along with a healthy diet, can help restore your nutrient reserves. O e a 3 . The importance of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA during pregnancy and the post partum period cannot be overstated. A fetus requires high amounts of these omega-3 fats for normal development, particularly in the third trimester when large amounts of DHA are required for brain growth. Producing milk to feed your baby also requires large amounts of DHA. During the third trimester and lactation maternal levels steadily decline; research has found that DHA levels in particular can decrease in the mother by as much as 50 percent during pregnancy and that low levels are related to a higher risk of PPD. A 2020 meta-analysis including eight randomized placebo-controlled trials including 638 women found that omega-3 supplementation (EPA + DHA) significantly improved depressive symptoms in women, whether they were pregnant or post-partum, and was well tolerated. The doses used in the studies varied from 1 to 6 grams (for severe PPD) daily. V t m n B . If you are taking a postnatal multivitamin, it should also contain the B-complex vitamins, however, there is one B vitamin that you may consider taking extra doses of: vitamin B6. This B vitamin is a cofactor in the production of serotonin and low levels have been implicated in PPD. A 2021 study set out to investigate the e ects of B6 supplementation on the prevention of PPD among mothers who were at a higher risk. Eighty-one pregnant women were divided into two groups: treatment group or placebo group. The women in the treatment group took 80 mg of B6 daily, in two divided doses, starting in the 28 th week of pregnancy and continuing until they gave birth. They were then instructed to take 40 mg of B6 daily for one month after delivery. The results showed that B6 had “a positive e ect on reducing postpartum depression scores among mothers at risk for PPD.” I o . Women lose blood during childbirth, with an average loss of 300 mL, but it can be as much as 500 mL or more, putting them at risk for anemia, a condition in which the blood doesn’t have enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Post-partum anemia is associated with emotional instability, reduced cognitive function, and depression and anemia during pregnancy and post-partum can significantly increase the risk of PPD. Iron is a component of hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen throughout the body and also plays a role in neurotransmitter synthesis, including dopamine. The results of a 2022 meta-analysis that included 27 studies showed that anemic women were nearly twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to non-anemic women and that the anemic mothers were less responsive to and had more negative feelings toward their children. It also found that iron supplementation significantly increased iron and hemoglobin levels with a corresponding “significant” reduction in depression scores. The World Health Organization recommends that new mothers should be screened for anemia and that iron supplementation should be a part of a woman’s postnatal care. Follow dosage instructions on the label. P s - a t m d p e s o s a s r o s i l e s f y u b l e e y u m g t b u f r n r m P D e c u o f m l , f i n s h r p s , a d o o r d c o . C n i e a i g a p o n m n i h y u oa a u a r c r ’ ® N t i i n l H a t o c N C o s p o t y u w t u r t o a u d ne e k o t t e h l o e e v .

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