Maternal depressive symptoms, serum folate status, and pregnancy outcome: results of the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to explore whether different levels of depressive symptoms in pregnant women and their serum folate status combined were associated with the gestational age and birthweight of their offspring.


METHODS
Data were derived from pregnant women in Amsterdam who completed a questionnaire covering depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and from whom blood samples were taken to determine serum folate status. Only live-born singletons were included (n = 4044) in the multivariate regression analysis.


RESULTS
When adjusted for potential confounders, only the association between major depressive symptoms and gestational age remained significant (-0.2 weeks; 95% confidence interval, -0.4 to -0.1). Women with depressive symptoms and low folate status (7.6%) experienced the shortest gestational age (38.6 weeks) and lowest birthweight (3270 g) (there was no significant interaction).


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms were associated with shorter gestational age and related lower birthweight. The study results underline the importance of folic acid intake specifically in women suffering from depressive symptoms.
Van Dijk
Aimée E
AE
Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.e.vandijk@amc.uva.nl
Van Eijsden
Manon
M
Stronks
Karien
K
Gemke
Reinoud J B J
RJ
Vrijkotte
Tanja G M
TG
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D015415:Biomarkers; D005492:Folic Acid