Health Hotline Magazine | May 2025

Vitamin B6 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 effects 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 28th 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 effect on reducing postpartum depression scores among mothers at risk for PPD.”

Iron 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. Post-partum depression is a serious illness. If you believe you might be suffering from PPD, reach out to family, friends, a therapist, and/or your doctor. Seek out the help you deserve.

For references, please visit naturalgrocers.com/issue-94

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