According to researchers pregnant women who were Iron deficient were more likely to have increased levels of peri-natal depression.
Women between the ages of 18 and 25, who were either in the middle or towards the end of their pregnancy, participated in this retrospective study. In a retrospective study, researchers look at past data of the participants. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) questionnaire and had their blood drawn to assess their serum ferritin level, which is a biological marker of Iron storage. 31% of the participants were Iron deficient and on average these women (who were Iron deficient) scored significantly higher on the EPDS questionnaire compared with the participants who were iron sufficient. By studying the ferritin level of women later on in their pregnancies researchers suggest a link exists between iron deficiency and antenatal (during or related to pregnancy) depression.
Several limitations were noted during the study. Being a retrospective study did lead to the possibility that a reverse causality could exist, meaning antenatal depression could be what lead to an iron deficiency. Additionally using a survey to determine depression levels was not the same as having a diagnosis of depression from a professional. Lastly when designing the study researchers did not take into account the nutritional status of the participants during their pregnancy which along with the diagnosis of Iron deficiency could be a sign of general poor health and nutrition.
Further studies with a larger sample group are needed.
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