Maternal Mental Health in Late Pregnancy and Longitudinal Changes in Postpartum Serum Vitamin B-12, Homocysteine, and Milk B-12 Concentration Among Brazilian Women

BackgroundLittle is known regarding the association between mental health distress during pregnancy and postpartum maternal serum biomarkers of vitamin B-12 status and milk B-12 concentration. ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms in the third trimester of pregnancy and changes in postpartum serum B-12, homocysteine, and B-12 milk concentration. MethodsA total of 101 women (18-40 years) were studied in a prospective cohort with data at the third trimester of pregnancy (baseline) and three postpartum time-points (TPs): 2-8 days (TP1), 28-50 days (TP2), and 88-119 days (TP3) postpartum. B-12 concentrations in milk were measured by competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay at TP1, TP2, and TP3. Serum B-12 and homocysteine concentrations were evaluated at baseline, TP1, TP2, and TP3 by chemiluminescent immunoassays. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory at baseline. Spearman's correlation test and multiple linear mixed-effect models were performed. ResultsThe prevalence of depressive and anxiety state symptoms was 35.6 and 39.6% at baseline. High prevalence of low milk B-12 concentration (