As regular visitors to this blog will know, I've suffered with periodic depression over the years. Periodic meaning that mostly I've had it and occasionally I've gone off the meds only to go back on them again a few months later.
Anyway - I was talking with someone about depression in pregnancy and it suddenly occured to me that I have not felt even remotely depressed in a few months. So much so that I haven't even thought about it, it's never occured ot me, I've not worried about it, I've not given it the time of day. This is an extremely unusual thing because in the past even when on medication I've been aware of it 'lurking beneath' as it were.
Also, having come off the meds this time a few months before becoming pregnant I was feeling very up and down for quite time, and when I did become pregnant the down days were definitely winning for a few weeks... pregnancy hromones making things worse. So what changed?
I have also been researching a bit more on the MTHFR thing that I have, and the more I read the more I realised it is linked to depression.
Basically there is a known link between depression and Vitamin B / Folate deficiency, especially in Folic Acid, B6 and B12. If you have this MTHFR thing, you are not processing those B vitamins properly and you tend towards high homocysteine levels - thus the link and people with it are far more susceptible to depression. Here is an excerpt from something I found online.
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People with either low blood levels of the B-vitamin folic acid, or high blood levels of the protein homocysteine, (a sign that you are not getting enough B6, B12 or folic acid) are both more likely to be depressed and less likely to get a positive result from anti-depressant drugs. In a study comparing the effects of giving an SSRI with either a placebo or with folic acid, 61% of patients improved on the placebo combination but 93% improved with the addition of folic acid. But how does folic acid itself, a cheap vitamin with no side-effects, compare to anti-depressants?
Three trials involving 247 people addressed this question. Two involving 151 people assessed the use of folic acid in addition to other treatment, and found that adding folic acid reduced HRS scores on average by a further 2.65 points. That’s not as good as the results with 5-HTP but as good, if not better than antidepressants. These studies also show that more patients treated with folate experienced a reduction in their Hamilton Rating score of greater than 50% after ten weeks compared to those on anti-depressants.
Having a high level of homocysteine, a toxic protein found in the blood, doubles the odds of a woman developing depression. The ideal level is below 6, and certainly below 9. The average level is 10-11. Depression risk doubles with levels above 15. The higher your level the more likely folic acid will work for you.
Folic acid is one of seven nutrients – the others being B2, B6, B12, zinc, magnesium and TMG – that help normalise homocysteine. Deficiency in vitamin B3, B6, folic acid, zinc and magnesium have all been linked to depression. Having a low intake of these nutrients means your brain is good at ‘methylating’ which is the process by which the brain keeps it’s chemistry in balance. So it makes sense to both eat wholefoods, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, high in these nutrients and supplementing a multivitamin.
Side effects? There are none, except lower risk for heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer’s and improved energy and concentration. However, if you are vegan and B12 deficient, taking folic acid on its own can mask the symptoms, but the underlying nerve damage caused by B12 deficiency anaemia can persist. So, don’t take folic acid without also supplementing vitamin B12.
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There is also an interesting link, I think, in that depression can be hereditary as is the MTHFR defect, so it would explain a lot!
Obviously your average Doctor is not likely to put 2 and 2 together with this but the reason I have become convinced that it is the case for me is that I've realised my depression went away completely after I started taking the Folic Acid/B6/B12 prescription (high doses).
And other pregnant women diagnosed with MTHFR that I've spoken to ALL have depression problems too!.
Very interesting! I've read that depression often lifts during pregnancy. Higher levels of progesterone and not having the wild flux in estrogen and other hormone levels has been given as an explanation. (the sudden drop in progesterone post-partum is what is thought to cause the baby blues or PPD.)
I wonder if the recommendation to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid (to decrease the risk of neural tube defect) has made women less likely to be depressed while pregnant? Though I continued to take prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding and still had PPD. Less so this time but I was taking a vegetable-source omega-3 (DHA) supplement -- some people say that it helps with depression as well. I also dont have the MTHFR defect (to my knowledge) and my depression seems to be very hormone-related. Maybe it would have been worse without the vitamins? You're right - it cant hurt!
Posted by: Lynanne at March 19, 2007 04:00 PM