The role of pterins and related factors in the biology of early postpartum depression.

ABSTRACT

Plasma tryptophan and other putative amino acids, cortisol, folate and vitamin B12 and urinary biopterin (B) and neopterins (N) were measured in three groups of women 62 women in the early postpartum period, 23 pregnant and 38 non-gravid controls. Sixty-two postpartum women were screened for depression by the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) on day 7 after delivery. Postpartum women had significantly lower tryptophan, vitamin B12 and significantly greater levels of cortisol, folate, neopterins and biopterins than controls. Comparisons between women who were classified on the EPDS as cases and non-cases revealed only a statistically significant difference for lower NB (P<0.01) and lower folate (P<0.01) ratio in cases than non-cases. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant contribution for low tryptophan to increased EPDS which also showed significant correlations with low methionine, low tyrosine, low NB ratio and high vitamin B12.