title: Observational study on the efficacy of the supplementation with a preparation with several minerals and vitamins in improving mood and behaviour of healthy puerperal women.
abstract: We investigated whether a formulation containing vitamins and minerals (vit&min) could improve the worsening of mood changes occurring after delivery ("a.d."). The study was performed in 552 healthy non-anaemic puerperal women ("p.w") without risk factors for puerperal depression ("p.d"). They were at their first full-term pregnancy, and spontaneously delivered healthy newborns. The Edinburgh Depression Postnatal scale (EPDS) evaluates the psychological status of "p.w". EPDS was administered the 3rd (visit 1), 15th (visit 2) and 30th (visit 3) day "a.d.". An EPDS >12 indicates a major susceptibility to "p.d". At the same time intervals, haemoglobin, iron and ferritin (haematological parameters) levels were evaluated. After visit 1, the subjects were randomized to vit&min treatment (group A; N.274) or to calcium/vitamin D3 treatment (group B; N.278). In both groups haematological parameters significantly increased without differences between the groups. EPDS score improved in both groups, but in the group A, the EPDS decrease was significantly larger (p < 0.05) in comparison to the group B. This effect is mainly evident in subjects with a basal EPDS ≥ 12. An early examination of psychological condition could select "p.w." with a high susceptibility to neuronal changes occurring postpartum. Vit&min favourably modulates brain functions antagonizing the evolution to "p.d".
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cagliari, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. gineca.annapaoletti@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Marisa Margherita
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Orrù
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Marotto
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilloni
authors.forename: Pierina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zedda
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fais
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piano
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lello
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coghe
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorge
authors.forename: Gian Benedetto
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Melis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins