The efficacy of early iron supplementation on postpartum depression, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate whether early iron supplementation improves postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms and iron stores in non-anemic mothers with PPD.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation significantly increased ferritin levels, reduced iron deficiency, and improved PPD symptoms compared to placebo, with a 42.8% improvement rate in the iron-treated group. Continued PPD was associated with lower ferritin levels in untreated mothers.
Population
Non-anemic mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) one week after delivery.
Effective Dosage
50 mg elemental iron daily.
Duration
6 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | increase | ferritin | mothers with postpartum depression (PPD) | p < 0.001 | significantly increased | #1 |
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | increase | ferritin | iron-treated group | medians: 78.2 vs. 37 mg/dl, p = 0.01 | was higher | #2 |
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | decrease | rate of iron deficiency | iron-treated group | p = 0.009 | significantly decreased | #3 |
placebo | increase | rate of iron deficiency | placebo group | 31.4 vs. 8.5 %, p = 0.01 | was higher | #4 |
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | decrease | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score | iron-treated group | p < 0.001 | significantly decreased | #5 |
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | decrease | Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score | iron-treated group | medians 9 vs. 12, p = 0.01 | was lower | #6 |
iron supplementation (50 mg elemental iron/daily) | increase | improvement rate for PPD | iron-treated group | 42.8 vs. 20 %, p = 0.03 | was significantly higher | #7 |
- | decrease | ferritin | mothers with continued PPD | 41.8 vs. 67 mg/dl, p = 0.03 | had lower | #8 |
- | increase | rate of iron deficiency | mothers with continued depression | 27.1 vs. 4.5 %, p = 0.02 | had higher | #9 |
early iron supplementation | increase | iron stores | mothers with PPD | - | significantly improves | #10 |
early iron supplementation | decrease | PPD | mothers with PPD | 42.8 % improvement rate during 6 weeks | causes a significant improvement | #11 |
PURPOSE: Evaluating early iron supplementation in non-anemic mothers with postpartum depression (PPD). METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated 70 mothers with PPD. One week after delivery, the mothers were randomly allocated in the iron-treated (50 mg elemental iron/daily) and placebo-treated groups. After 6 weeks, the improvement of PPD symptoms was compared between the groups. RESULTS: Ferritin significantly increased in the iron-treated group (p < 0.001), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.09). After intervention, ferritin was higher in the iron-treated group (medians: 78.2 vs. 37 mg/dl, p = 0.01). The rate of iron deficiency significantly decreased in the iron-treated group (p = 0.009), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.4). After intervention, the rate of iron deficiency was higher in the placebo group (31.4 vs. 8.5 %, p = 0.01). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score significantly decreased in the iron-treated group (p < 0.001), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.13). After intervention, the EPDS score was lower in the iron-treated group (medians 9 vs. 12, p = 0.01). The improvement rate for PPD was significantly higher in the iron-treated group (42.8 vs. 20 %, p = 0.03). After intervention, mothers with continued PPD had lower ferritin than the improved mothers (41.8 vs. 67 mg/dl, p = 0.03). Mothers with continued depression had higher rate of iron deficiency compared to the improved mothers (27.1 vs. 4.5 %, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Early iron supplementation in mothers with PPD significantly improves the iron stores and causes a significant improvement in PPD with a 42.8 % improvement rate during 6 weeks. Continued PPD might be related to the lower postpartum ferritin levels in untreated mothers.