Changes in phosphoethanolamine during the postpartum period and its association with depression.

Aim: This study aimed to examine phosphoethanolamine (PEA) in postpartum women and its association with postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods: This prospective study, performed between July 2020 and August 2021 at Fukushima Medical University Hospital, included 67 women. They answered two questionnaires, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). EPDS is the screening tool for PPD, and the PHQ-9 scores can evaluate the degree of depressive symptom severity. Blood was collected at 5 and 40 days postpartum, and PEA levels were measured.

Results: The PEA levels of all postpartum women on day 5 were significantly lower than those on day 40. EPDS and PHQ-9 scores were significantly lower on day 40 than those on day 5 postpartum. No significant correlation was observed between the PPD-suspected (EPDS≥9) women and PEA levels, and no significant correlation was found between plasma PEA levels and PHQ-9 scores on postpartum days 5 and 40.

Conclusions: This study found that PEA levels on postpartum day 5 were lower than on postpartum day 40. It also suggested that there was no association between the degree of postpartum depression and plasma PEA concentrations.