Abstract
Perinatal depression and anxiety affect up to 13% of pregnant women in New Zealand, with Māori women being at an increased risk. Perinatal depression and anxiety are associated with increased risks such as impaired mother-baby bonding, and impaired cognitive development in the child which is why treatment is imperative. Treatments outside of pregnancy include antidepressant medication, however these are associated with significant risks during pregnancy such as cardiac and motor abnormalities. Increased vitamin C requirements during pregnancy and the association of vitamin C deficiency with low mood has prompted research into the relationship between vitamin C and perinatal depression and anxiety.
This study investigated the effect of vitamin C on perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms using samples and data collected from a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Women in the study (n=61) received either an ascorbate-containing multi nutrient supplement or a placebo, and blood samples and mood scores were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of the intervention. Plasma ascorbate concentrations were measured by the student researcher using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. There was a significant increase in plasma ascorbate in participants who received the intervention compared to the placebo control. Mood scores for both intervention groups decreased over time, however there were no significant differences between the intervention and placebo, nor were there any correlations between mood scores and plasma ascorbate. Instead, we found a significant inverse correlation between body weight and plasma ascorbate. Our total cohort had adequate plasma ascorbate concentrations at baseline which can negate the impact of supplementation and may explain why we found no differences in mood between the placebo and intervention groups after the intervention.
Further research into perinatal depression and anxiety is required for cohorts at risk of vitamin C deficiency at baseline, such as those from low socioeconomic populations or those with high body weight at baseline.