Association of VDBP (rs4588 and rs7041) gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to postpartum depression in South Indian population: A cross-sectional study.

Low vitamin D levels have been implicated in postpartum depressive disorders (PPD). Our study aimed to demonstrate the association of Vitamin D Binding Protein (VDBP) genetic variants rs7041 and rs4588 with susceptibility to PPD and to investigate their possible relationship with serum vitamin D and VDBP levels in Indian women with PPD. A cross-sectional study involved 330 cases and 330 controls. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. Genotyping of SNPs was done by Taqman 5'allelic discrimination assay. Estimation of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] and VDBP levels were done by ELISA. Serum total, free and bioavailable 25(OH) D levels were significantly lower in cases compared to controls, with similar levels of VDBP between the two groups. The study results showed that the VDBP rs4588 variant genotype AA was significantly associated with lower circulating levels of total 25(OH) D in cases. Also, the VDBP rs7041 variant TT genotype demonstrated significantly lower levels of total, free and bioavailable 25(OH) D levels in controls. However, VDBP rs7041 and rs4588 variants were not associated with PPD susceptibility. Also, VDBP haplotypes showed no association with PPD susceptibility. Our results demonstrated that VDBP polymorphisms rs4588 and rs7041 and their haplotypes are not associated with PPD susceptibility in the South Indian population. However, vitamin D levels were found to be influenced by the risk genotypes of VDBP SNPs rs4588 and rs7041.

Cross-sectional association between vitamin B12 status and probable postpartum depression in Indian women.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient for neurological function, as it leads to the regeneration of methionine from homocysteine, which is precursor of biologically active molecule S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAM). Pregnancy is a state of increased demand and delayed postpartum repletion of nutrients may predispose women to depression. METHODS: We included women who visited the hospital at 6-weeks postpartum for a regular checkup. Inclusion criteria were age (18-50 years), and willingness to donate venous sample for analysis. Exclusion criteria included previous history of mood disorders or antidepressant medication use, and any systemic illness like hypothyroidism, epilepsy, diabetes, and hypertension. Based on EPDS score of 10 as a cutoff, 217 women with probable postpartum depression (PPD) and equal number of age and BMI matched controls were included. Plasma total vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin (holotc), homocysteine (hcy), methyl malonic acid (MMA), 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate (THF), SAM and serotonin levels were estimated using commercially available ELISA kits. Combined B12 (cB12) score was calculated from study parameters. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the risk of probable postpartum depression. RESULTS: Total vitamin B12 and combined B12 score were found to be significantly lower (p = 0.001) and MMA (p = 0.002) and 5-methyl THF (p < 0.001) levels were higher in women with probable depression than women without probable PPD. Women in the lowest vitamin B12 quartile had 4.53 times higher likelihood of probable postpartum depression (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that decreasing vitamin B12 (OR = 0.394; 95% CI: 0.189-0.822) and cB12 (OR = 0.293; 95% CI: 0182-0.470) and increasing MMA (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.63-2.83) and 5-methyl THF levels (OR = 3.29; 95% CI: 1.59-6.83) were significantly associated with the risk of probable PPD. CONCLUSION: Low vitamin B12 may contribute to depressive symptoms in vulnerable postpartum period.

Reduced Maternal Serum Total, Free and Bioavailable Vitamin D Levels and its Association with the Risk for Postpartum Depressive Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Low vitamin D levels have been implicated in postpartum depressive disorders. However, studies on bioavailable vitamin D levels in postpartum depression are limited. Our study aimed to assess the serum concentrations of total, free and bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in women with postpartum depressive symptoms (PPD) and the association between 25(OH)D levels and PPD at 6 week post-delivery. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 330 cases and 330 age and BMI matched controls were recruited from the tertiary care hospital in South India. Women with depressive symptoms were assessed using the validated Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and cut-off score ≥10 was used. Serum 25(OH)D and VDBP levels were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. RESULTS: Serum total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower in postpartum depressive women compared to non-depressive women (p <0.001, p = 0.01). A significant negative correlation was observed between 25(OH)D, free 25(OH)D and bioavailable 25(OH)D with EPDS score in total study subjects (p <0.001, r = -0.19; p <0.001, r = -0.14 and p <0.001, r = -0.14). Multivariate linear regression analysis further confirmed a significant association between serum total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D levels and EPDS score (p <0.001∗). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that lower serum total, free and bioavailable 25(OH)D levels were associated with postpartum depressive symptoms. Hypovitaminosis D after delivery may be a risk factor for postpartum depression.

Low serum levels of High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) as an indicator for the development of severe postpartum depressive symptoms.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric complication of childbirth affecting 10-20% of new mothers and has negative impact on both mother and infant. Serum lipid levels have been related to depressive disorders, but very limited literatures are available regarding the lipid levels in women with postpartum depression. The present study is aimed to examine the association of serum lipids with the development of postpartum depressive symptoms. This is a cross sectional study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India. Women who came for postpartum check-up at 6th week post-delivery were screened for PPD (September 2014-October 2015). Women with depressive symptoms were assessed using EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). The study involved 186 cases and 250 controls matched for age and BMI. Serum levels of lipid parameters were estimated through spectrophotometry and the atherogenic indices were calculated in all the subjects. Low serum levels of Total Cholesterol (TC) and High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were significantly low in PPD women with severe depressive symptoms. The study recorded a significant negative correlation between HDL-c and the EPDS score in PPD women (r = -0.140, p = 0.05). Interestingly, the study also observed a significant negative correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI) and EPDS scores in case group (r = -0.146, p = 0.047), whereas a positive correlation between the same in controls (r = 0.187, p = 0.004). Our study demonstrated that low levels of serum HDL-c is correlated with the development of severe depressive symptoms in postpartum women. Study highlights the role of lipids in the development of postpartum depressive symptoms.