Flavonoid-Based Intervention for Postpartum Mental Health: Benefits for Mothers in the First 6 Months
During the postpartum period, parents face psychological challenges, leading to mood changes and associated mood disorders becoming increasingly common in the following 6 months. Dietary flavonoids have been found beneficial for mood, offering an attractive non-pharmacological option for potentially treating postpartum mood disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a two-week flavonoid intervention would improve the mental health of mothers and fathers in the immediate postpartum period of 6 months.
The study employed a randomized controlled design, with parallel groups, to explore the effects of a flavonoid intervention compared to a control group on various outcomes, including mood (PANAS), postpartum depression (EPDS), postpartum anxiety (PSAS-RSF-C), and quality of life (WHOQOL).
Sixty participants (mothers n=40, fathers n=20) in the 6-month postpartum period were randomized to one of two groups, ‘flavonoids’ or ‘control’. The flavonoid group was asked to add two flavonoid-rich foods (approximate flavonoid intake of 218mg/day) to their daily diet, while controls (n=23) were asked to continue with their usual diet for two weeks.
Significant effects were found in the flavonoid group where mothers reported greater positive affect and lower postpartum depression after the two-week intervention compared to baseline.
This result is particularly relevant as a clinical reduction in postpartum depression scores was observed in the flavonoid group averaging 2.6 points compared to baseline, equivalent to a reduction from ‘possible depression’ at baseline to ‘little or no depression’ at 2 weeks, which was not observed in the control group. Fathers’ data were not analyzed due to non-compliance with the intervention.
This study provides evidence of the benefits of a flavonoid intervention for the mood and mental health of mothers, supporting the utility of non-pharmacological and self-administered dietary changes to improve positive mood outcomes and reduce symptoms of postpartum depression in mothers during a particularly challenging period.
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Source: “The effects of flavonoid supplementation on the mental health of postpartum parents”, Volume 5 – 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1345353.
