Effects of Zinc and Magnesium Supplements on Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Objective: The immediate change in the mothers’ roles and responsibilities in life after childbirth can cause postpartum anxiety and depression. It can also profoundly affect the whole family, the maternal and neonatal health, and the relationship between the mother and the infant. This study aimed at determining the effects of zinc and magnesium supplements on depression and anxiety in postpartum women at two educational and one non-educational hospitals in Tabriz in 2014-15. Methods: This triple-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 99 women aged 18 and over. The eligible women were randomly assigned to the three groups of zinc sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and placebo. The intervention groups received one 27-mg zinc sulfate tablet and one 320-mg magnesium sulfate per day for 8 weeks, whereas the control group received one placebo tablet per day during the same period. The partisipants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before and after the intervention. To control the amount of zinc and magnesium received through diet, a 24-hour dietary questionnaire was used during the first and last three days of intervention. The baseline serum levels of zinc and magnesium were also measured before the intervention. ANCOVA was used to analyze the data. Findings: No statistically significant difference was observed in the three groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics and in depression and anxiety scores before the intervention and food groups containing of zinc and magnesium except poly unsaturated fatty acids (p>0.05). By adjusting for the baseline scores of depression and anxiety, as well as zinc and magnesium serum levels and poly unsaturated fatty acid level, no significant difference was observed between groups eight weeks after delivery in mean scores of depression (p=0.553), state anxiety (p=0.995), and trait anxiety (p=0.234). Conclusions: This study concluded magnesium and zing did not reduce postpartum anxiety and depression