ArticlePloS one2013
Low omega-3 index in pregnancy is a possible biological risk factor for postpartum depression.
Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 115 citations in OpenAlex.
- Role of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.PloS one · 2014Pooled it
- Exploring the association between whole blood Omega-3 Index, DHA, EPA, DHA, AA and n-6 DPA, and depression and self-esteem in adolescents of lower general secondary education.European journal of nutrition · 2019Trial
- Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids as a functional food: a multifaceted approach to health reinforcement.Journal of the science of food and agriculture · 2026Review
- Investigating the relationship between MIND diet and postpartum depressive symptoms.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Abnormalities of lipid metabolism in the progression and treatment of depression.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2025Review
- Multidimensional influencing factors of postpartum depression based on the perspective of the entire reproductive cycle: evidence from western province of China.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2024Article
- Depression in Women: Potential Biological and Sociocultural Factors Driving the Sex Effect.Neuropsychobiology · 2024Review
- DHA supplementation and pregnancy complications.Journal of translational medicine · 2023Review
- Association between blood N-3 fatty acid levels and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 in the UK Biobank.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2023Article
- Omega-3 index as risk factor in psychiatric diseases: a narrative review.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Review
- Impact of health and lifestyle food supplements on periodontal tissues and health.Periodontology 2000 · 2022Review
- Red blood cell fatty acid patterns from 7 countries: Focus on the Omega-3 index.Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids · 2022Article
- The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) longitudinal study: cohort profile and key findings from the first three years.BMJ open · 2022Article
- Article
- Perinatal dietary omega-3 fatty acid deficiency reduces maternal nurturing behavior in rats: dissociation from elevated pro-inflammatory signaling.Nutritional neuroscience · 2021Article
- Review
- Postpartum Depression: Current Status and Possible Identification Using Biomarkers.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2021Review
- Safety and efficacy of supplements in pregnancy.Nutrition reviews · 2020Review
- An analysis of omega-3 fatty acid status in a population of pregnant women with obesity, at higher risk of preterm birth.European journal of clinical nutrition · 2020Article
- Fatty Acid Reference Intervals in Red Blood Cells among Pregnant Women in Norway-Cross Sectional Data from the 'Little in Norway' Cohort.Nutrients · 2020Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDepression is a common disorder affecting 10-15% women in the postpartum period. Postpartum depression can disrupt early mother-infant interaction, and constitutes a risk factor for early child development. Recently, attention has been drawn to the hypothesis that a low intake of seafood in pregnancy can be a risk factor for postpartum depression. Seafood is a unique dietary source of the marine omega-3 fatty acids and is a natural part of a healthy balanced diet that is especially important during pregnancy.
methodsIn a community based prospective cohort in a municipality in Western Norway, we investigated both nutritional and psychological risk factors for postpartum depression. The source population was all women who were pregnant within the period November 2009 - June 2011. The fatty acid status in red blood cells was assessed in the 28(th) gestation week and participants were screened for postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) three months after delivery. The aim of the present study was to investigate if a low omega-3 index in pregnancy is a possible risk factor for postpartum depression.
resultsIn a simple regression model, the omega-3 index was associated with the EPDS score in a nonlinear inverse manner with an R square of 19. Thus, the low omega-3 index explained 19% of the variance in the EPDS score. The DPA content, DHA content, omega-3 index, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, total HUFA score, and the omega-3 HUFA score were all inversely correlated with the EPDS score. The EPDS scores of participants in the lowest omega-3 index quartile were significantly different to the three other omega-3 index quartiles.
conclusionIn this study population, a low omega-3 index in late pregnancy was associated with higher depression score three months postpartum.
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