Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41470006›Full record

Observational studyClinical epigenetics2025

Associations between lifetime history of depression, prenatal OXTR DNA methylation and breastfeeding outcomes.

Elizabeth C Braithwaite, Kristine Haftorn, Aurora Oftedal, Ziada Ayorech, Anne Kaasen, Christopher Murgatroyd, Robert Lyle, Christian M Page, Mona Bekkhus

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical epigenetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Elizabeth C Braithwaite *School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, Brooks Building, 53 Bonsall Street, Manchester, M15 6GX, UK.
Kristine Haftorn *Department of Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Aurora OftedalDivision of Mental and Physical Health, Department of Childhood and Families, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Ziada AyorechDepartment of Psychology, PROMENTA Research Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Anne KaasenFaculty of Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Christopher MurgatroydDepartment of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Robert LyleDepartment of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Christian M Page *Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
Mona Bekkhus *Department of Psychology, PROMENTA Research Center, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. mona.bekkhus@psykologi.uio.no.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen with depression are less likely to breastfeed and experience more breastfeeding challenges. Potential biological mechanisms that link maternal depression with poor breastfeeding outcomes have not been investigated. This study examined associations between lifetime history of depression (LHD), prenatal oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) DNA methylation, and breastfeeding outcomes.

resultsLongitudinal observational data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) were analysed (N = 3607). LHD was self-reported during pregnancy (week 15). Blood samples were collected at 16-18 weeks of pregnancy, and DNA methylation was measured using the Illumina Methylation EPIC BeadChip 850 K array. This array includes 22 CpG sites on the OXTR gene, which were used in analyses. Mothers self-reported breastfeeding initiation (breastmilk given to child in first month), breastfeeding maintenance (breastmilk given to child for 6 months or more) and breastfeeding problems. Maternal LHD was not associated with OXTR DNA methylation. There was some evidence that prenatal OXTR DNA methylation was associated with breastfeeding outcomes. There was an association between CpG cg26455676 and breastfeeding maintenance to 6 months (odds ratio = 1.59, 95% confidence intervals = 1.11-2.27, raw p = 0.01, adjusted p = 0.04). Higher levels of DNA methylation at CpG cg26455676 was associated with a greater likelihood of maintaining breastfeeding to 6 months.

conclusionsThis highly novel study highlights the intriguing possibility that maternal prenatal DNA methylation at genes important for breastfeeding may be associated with breastfeeding experiences. Further understanding of vastly differing breastfeeding experiences would assist with the targeting efforts to support breastfeeding women, particularly those who are vulnerable, such as mothers who have depression.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingDepressionDNA MethylationPregnancy ComplicationsReceptors, OxytocinAdultCpG IslandsFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesNorwayPregnancyOXTR protein, humanReceptors, Oxytocin

Identifiers

PMID41470006
PMCPMC12817678

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.