A nutritional kit against the baby blues

An effective nutritional cocktail has been developed to combat the baby blues, according to results of a study published in the journal PNAS. 5 days after childbirth, young mothers can experience postpartum blues. It affects the mood of women and can develop into postpartum depression, a mental disorder that affects 13% of mothers.

Researchers at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Canada conducted a study with 21 women who received dietary supplements and a control group of 20 mothers who did not. The cocktail was administered for three days, starting on the third day after thechildbirth.

This nutritional supplement “kit” was made with 2 grams of tryptophan (2g), 10 grams of tyrosine and blueberry juice.

Food supplements have shown total effectiveness against the baby blues

These compounds were chosen to counteract the proliferation of the MAO-A protein, which takes place in the first postpartum phase and which inhibits the action of three mood stabilizing neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. When these chemicals are used up, a feeling of sadness can pervade moms.

Food plays on our moods

Five days after giving birth, when the baby blues point their noses, the young mothers underwent tests to evaluate the effect of the kit on the mood.

The results have been spectacular. Women who did not take the supplements had a significant increase in depression. On the other hand, mothers treated with food supplements did not experience the baby blues.

“Developing effective nutrition-based treatments, based on neurobiology, is rare in psychiatry,” explains Dr Meyer, a researcher in the neurochemistry of major depression. “We believe our approach also represents a promising new avenue for the creation of other novel dietary supplements for medical purposes.”

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