Postpartum Lipid Levels in Women with Major Depression
Journal of Women's Health, 05/22/2012
Clinical Article
Prairie BA et al. – Total cholesterol, high–density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low–density lipoprotein cholesterol are significantly elevated in the early postpartum period and do not return to <200 mg/dL until 6 weeks postpartum in women with postpartum depression. The magnitude and duration of elevation are consistent with the sparse published data on nondepressed women.
Methods- As part of screening for a randomized controlled trial comparing treatments for postpartum depression (PPD), women (n=120) had postpartum fasting lipid levels determined.
- Linear regression models were used to assess the association between time postpartum and lipid levels.
- Analysis of covariance models (ANCOVA) assessed the association of baseline characteristics with lipids.
- Total cholesterol levels were >200 mg/dL in 45% of the sample at baseline.
- Mean baseline total cholesterol was 196±39 mg/dL.
- There was an inverse linear relationship between postpartum week and total cholesterol, with cholesterol values decreasing an average of 4.5 mg/dL per week.
- Similarly, LDL–C and HDL–C trended down over time.
- Triglycerides were stable and within the normal range during the observation period.
