Treating antenatal depresssion

Vitamins and minerals have been used by University of Canterbury (UC) researchers to alleviate symptoms of depression during pregnancy.

Antenatal depression affects some 32 to 45 million women globally; it increases the pregnancy risks and complications in birth and newborns, and has been linked with emotional, behavioural, and developmental problems in children.

PhD graduates, Dr Hayley Bradley and Dr Siobhan Campbell, along with Professor Julia Rucklidge from the Faculty of Science, looked to use a safe and accessible alternative to psychological therapy and antidepressants, which often have significant barriers such as cost, access and side-effects.

Professor Rucklidge says the research, using micronutrients (high doses of vitamins and minerals), produced positive and promising outcomes. “Overall, 75% of the participants were in remission in their symptoms of depression both in the micronutrient group and placebo group; however, 69% of those in the micronutrient group identified themselves as much to very much improved, compared with only 39% taking the placebo. “The clinicians rated the participants on micronutrients as having greater change in their global functioning (how well someone is coping with day-to-day life) compared with those on placebo. Sleep also improved more on micronutrients.”

Blood tests during the pregnancy suggested that increased micronutrient intake resulted in meaningful increases in vitamins B12 and D, and there were fewer women developing vitamin C deficiency for those in the micronutrient group compared with the placebo group.

An exciting finding of the research was the low rate of side effects from the micronutrients. “Both groups reported similar side effects, showing the micronutrients themselves have little to no side effects, whereas anti-depressant side effects can include nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite among other symptoms–which can be another barrier to taking medication,” says
Professor Rucklidge.

The next step is to encourage independent replication to confirm the findings and get one step closer to accessible alternative treatment for antenatal depression.