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Condition

Peripartum Depression

Peripartum depression is depression that arises during pregnancy or after delivery, shaped by big hormonal shifts and disrupted sleep. Among supplements, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil have been studied most, and trials found depression symptoms eased by a moderate amount. Still, the evidence is very limited: it rests on 14 studies with 444 participants in total, so it says little about who benefits most.

Sources: PMID 12748510; PMID 18247194

Supplements studied
2
Graded outcomes
1
Trials
9
People studied
638

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

2 supplements

Fish Oil

Fish Oil: outcomes studied for Peripartum Depression
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Depression Symptoms

Moderate Improvement

Improves (the measure goes down)Moderate effect14 studies444 people

Studies that measured depression symptoms

and 11 more on the Fish Oil page

Postpartum Depression SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)2 studies327 people

Studies that measured postpartum depression symptoms

Saffron

Saffron: outcomes studied for Peripartum Depression
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Depression SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)18 studies134 people

Studies that measured depression symptoms

and 15 more on the Saffron page

Key findings

  • Depression SymptomsFish OilImproves (the measure goes down)

The Peripartum Depression Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 3 supporting supplements

See the full protocol

Studies cited

34 studies from PubMed

  1. Comparison of Saffron versus Fluoxetine in Treatment of Mild to Moderate Postpartum Depression: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical TrialPharmacopsychiatry · PMID 27595298
  2. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of saffron stigma (Crocus sativus L.) in mothers suffering from mild-to-moderate postpartum depressionPhytomedicine · PMID 29157808
  3. Efficacy and Safety of Crocus sativus L. in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: One Year Single-Blind Randomized, with Parallel Groups, Clinical TrialJ Alzheimers Dis · PMID 27472878
  4. Saffron ( Crocus sativus) versus duloxetine for treatment of patients with fibromyalgia: A randomized double-blind clinical trialAvicenna J Phytomed · PMID 30456199
  5. Stepped approach to improving sexual function after gynaecological cancer: the SAFFRON feasibility RCTHealth Technol Assess · PMID 30798790
  6. affron ®, a standardised extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) for the treatment of youth anxiety and depressive symptoms: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyJ Affect Disord · PMID 29510352
  7. Effect of saffron on fluoxetine-induced sexual impairment in men: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialPsychopharmacology · PMID 22552758
  8. Study the effects of saffron on depression and lipid profiles: A double blind comparative studyAsian J Psychiatr · PMID 26611571
  9. Crocus sativus L. in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trialPhytother Res · PMID 15852492
  10. Comparison of Crocus sativus L. and imipramine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a pilot double-blind randomized trial ISRCTN45683816BMC Complement Altern Med · PMID 15341662
  11. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus L. versus fluoxetine in the treatment of mild to moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized pilot trialJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 15707766
  12. Efficacy of a standardised saffron extract (affron®) as an add-on to antidepressant medication for the treatment of persistent depressive symptoms in adults: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyJ Psychopharmacol · PMID 31475623
  13. Efficacy of Crocus sativus (saffron) in treatment of major depressive disorder associated with post-menopausal hot flashes: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialArch Gynecol Obstet · PMID 29332222
  14. Comparison of petal of Crocus sativus L. and fluoxetine in the treatment of depressed outpatients: a pilot double-blind randomized trialProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry · PMID 17174460
  15. A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Crocus sativus L. with fluoxetine for improving mild to moderate depression in post percutaneous coronary intervention patientsJ Affect Disord · PMID 24289892
  16. Crocus sativus L. (petal) in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 16979327
  17. Saffron improved depression and reduced homocysteine level in patients with major depression: A Randomized, double-blind studyAvicenna J Phytomed · PMID 29387573
  18. Crocus Sativus L. (saffron) versus sertraline on symptoms of depression among older people with major depressive disorders-a double-blind, randomized intervention studyPsychiatry Res · PMID 31669837
  19. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation for prevention and treatment of perinatal depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials.Nord J Psychiatry · PMID 33190574
  20. The role of essential fatty acids in chronic fatigue syndrome. A case-controlled study of red-cell membrane essential fatty acids (EFA) and a placebo-controlled treatment study with high dose of EFAActa Neurol Scand · PMID 10071170
  21. Fish oil supplementation in the treatment of major depression: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trialProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry · PMID 17659823
  22. A dose-ranging study of the effects of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate in patients with ongoing depression despite apparently adequate treatment with standard drugsArch Gen Psychiatry · PMID 12365878
  23. Omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trialEur Neuropsychopharmacol · PMID 12888186
  24. Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of psychological distress and depressive symptoms in middle-aged women: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trialAm J Clin Nutr · PMID 19116322
  25. Efficacy of omega-3 for vasomotor symptoms treatment: a randomized controlled trialMenopause · PMID 23982113
  26. Omega-3 supplementation from pregnancy to postpartum to prevent depressive symptoms: a randomized placebo-controlled trialBMC Pregnancy Childbirth · PMID 28599630
  27. Omega-3 fatty acids and supportive psychotherapy for perinatal depression: a randomized placebo-controlled studyJ Affect Disord · PMID 18206247
  28. The Mothers, Omega-3, and Mental Health Study: a double-blind, randomized controlled trialAm J Obstet Gynecol · PMID 23531328
  29. Supplementation of a low dose of DHA or DHA+AA does not prevent peripartum depressive symptoms in a small population based sampleProg Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry · PMID 18955102
  30. Omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder during pregnancy: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Clin Psychiatry · PMID 18370571
  31. Omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for perinatal depression: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trialAust N Z J Psychiatry · PMID 18247194
  32. Omega-3 fatty acids for a better mental state in working populations - Happy Nurse Project: A 52-week randomized controlled trialJ Psychiatr Res · PMID 29627596
  33. Effect of maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on postpartum depression and information processingAm J Obstet Gynecol · PMID 12748510
  34. The effect of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation on premenstrual syndrome and health-related quality of life: a randomized clinical trialJ Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol · PMID 28707491

Supplement stack for Peripartum Depression