Evaluation of the Relationship Between the Level of Vitamin D in Maternal Blood and Breast Milk and Postpartum Depression

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between postpartum depression (PPD) and vitamin D levels in maternal blood and breast milk. Material and Methods: The study included women who presented to a polyclinic between December 2017 and_x000D_ August 2018, 4-6 weeks after having given live birth, who were aged between 18 and 40 years and married, gave birth after a planned single_x000D_ pregnancy, were feeding their baby with only breast milk and stated that they were taking vitamin D supplementation at the dose recommended by the Ministry of Health. The depression status of the women who agreed to participate in the study by signing the volunteer informed_x000D_ consent form was evaluated using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Two groups were formed as Group 1: EPDS score_x000D_ <13 (n=44) (without PPD) and Group 2: EPDS score ≥13 (n=31) (with PPD). The vitamin D levels in breast milk and maternal blood in both_x000D_ groups were compared. Results: 75 female patients included in the study had a mean age of 29.80±4.54 years. The mean vitamin D levels in_x000D_ breast milk and maternal blood were found to be 13.26±5.39 ng/mL and 17.14±6.79 ng/mL, respectively. In terms of depression status, no_x000D_ statistically significant difference was found between the groups regarding the serum vitamin D levels and the mean level of vitamin D in breast_x000D_ milk (p=0.463, p=0.847). Conclusion: No significant correlation was determined between the vitamin D levels in maternal blood and breast_x000D_ milk and PPD, while vitamin D was found to be low both in maternal blood and breast milk.