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RETRACTED ARTICLE: The efficacy of early iron supplementation on postpartum depression, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

European Journal of Nutrition volume 56, pages 901–908 (2017)Cite this article

This article was retracted on 23 September 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

Purpose

Evaluating early iron supplementation in non-anemic mothers with postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated 70 mothers with PPD. One week after delivery, the mothers were randomly allocated in the iron-treated (50 mg elemental iron/daily) and placebo-treated groups. After 6 weeks, the improvement of PPD symptoms was compared between the groups.

Results

Ferritin significantly increased in the iron-treated group (p < 0.001), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.09). After intervention, ferritin was higher in the iron-treated group (medians: 78.2 vs. 37 mg/dl, p = 0.01). The rate of iron deficiency significantly decreased in the iron-treated group (p = 0.009), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.4). After intervention, the rate of iron deficiency was higher in the placebo group (31.4 vs. 8.5 %, p = 0.01). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score significantly decreased in the iron-treated group (p < 0.001), but not in the placebo group (p = 0.13). After intervention, the EPDS score was lower in the iron-treated group (medians 9 vs. 12, p = 0.01). The improvement rate for PPD was significantly higher in the iron-treated group (42.8 vs. 20 %, p = 0.03). After intervention, mothers with continued PPD had lower ferritin than the improved mothers (41.8 vs. 67 mg/dl, p = 0.03). Mothers with continued depression had higher rate of iron deficiency compared to the improved mothers (27.1 vs. 4.5 %, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Early iron supplementation in mothers with PPD significantly improves the iron stores and causes a significant improvement in PPD with a 42.8 % improvement rate during 6 weeks. Continued PPD might be related to the lower postpartum ferritin levels in untreated mothers.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Research Deputy of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Vali-asr Hospital, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complexes, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, 1419733141, Iran

    Mahdi Sheikh, Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh, Mamak Shariat, Zahra Farahani & Ozra Ebrahiminasab

  2. Breastfeeding Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Sedigheh Hantoushzadeh & Mamak Shariat

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  1. Mahdi Sheikh
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Correspondence to Ozra Ebrahiminasab.

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Sheikh, M., Hantoushzadeh, S., Shariat, M. et al. RETRACTED ARTICLE: The efficacy of early iron supplementation on postpartum depression, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Nutr 56, 901–908 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1140-6

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