title: Vitamin D levels and perinatal depressive symptoms in women at risk: a secondary analysis of the mothers, omega-3, and mental health study.
abstract: Vitamin D insufficiency may be associated with depressive symptoms in non-pregnant adults. We performed this study to evaluate whether low maternal vitamin D levels are associated with depressive symptoms in pregnancy.
  
  
  
  This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized trial designed to assess whether prenatal omega-3 fatty acid supplementation would prevent depressive symptoms. Pregnant women from Michigan who were at risk for depression based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale Score or history of depression were enrolled. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview at 12-20 weeks, 26-28 weeks, 34-36 weeks, and 6-8 weeks postpartum. Vitamin D levels were measured at 12-20 weeks (N = 117) and 34-36 weeks (N = 112). Complete datasets were available on 105 subjects. Using regression analyses, we evaluated the relationship between vitamin D levels with BDI scores as well as with MINI diagnoses of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Our primary outcome measure was the association of maternal vitamin D levels with BDI scores during early and late pregnancy and postpartum.
  
  
  
  We found that vitamin D levels at 12-20 weeks were inversely associated with BDI scores both at 12-20 and at 34-36 weeks' gestation (P < 0.05, both). For every one unit increase in vitamin D in early pregnancy, the average decrease in the mean BDI score was .14 units. Vitamin D levels were not associated with diagnoses of major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder.
  
  
  
  In women at risk for depression, early pregnancy low vitamin D levels are associated with higher depressive symptom scores in early and late pregnancy. Future investigations should study whether vitamin D supplementation in early pregnancy may prevent perinatal depressive symptoms.
  
  
  
  https://clinicaltrials.gov/
  
  
  
  NCT00711971.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Ypsilanti, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer Anne
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Spectrum Health Maternal Fetal Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Vivian C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Chelsea M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Clinton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Delia M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Sheila M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chilimigras
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Lucy J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Allbaugh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Anjel M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vahratian
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. emozurkewich@salud.unm.edu.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA. emozurkewich@salud.unm.edu.
authors.forename: Ellen L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mozurkewich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062145:Maternal Serum Screening Tests / Q000379:methods; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Depression; Pregnancy; Vitamin D