---
title: Do prenatal vitamins with folic acid prevent depression during pregnancy?
description: No. Prenatal multivitamins with folic acid were not linked to lower depression rates during pregnancy, though women with a history of premenstrual syndrome ha
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prenatal-multivitamins-containing-folic-acid-do-not-decrease-prevalence-of-2008/
---

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- Do prenatal vitamins with folic acid prevent depression during pregnancy?

Survey study, 2008

# Do prenatal vitamins with folic acid prevent depression during pregnancy?

No. Prenatal multivitamins with folic acid were not linked to lower depression rates during pregnancy, though women with a history of premenstrual syndrome had three times the risk of depression.

 Early or limited evidence

1,277 pregnant women from a northern California health plan

## What they did

Survey of pregnant women from a northern California health plan. Of 1,314 women invited, 1,277 completed a questionnaire. Researchers asked about use of prenatal multivitamins containing folic acid and symptoms of depression. They used statistical methods to identify risk factors for depression.

## What they found

Overall depression rate was 8.1%. Of 652 women who did not take prenatal multivitamins with folic acid, 9.4% had depression. Of 624 women who took prenatal multivitamins with folic acid, 6.9% had depression (p = 0.11). Women with a family history of depression were 3.7 times more likely to have depression. Women with a personal history of premenstrual syndrome were 3.0 times more likely to have depression.

## What it means for you

Prenatal vitamins with folic acid did not reduce depression rates. More importantly, women with premenstrual syndrome had three times higher risk of depression during pregnancy. This survey in one health plan cannot demonstrate cause and effect. Results may differ in other healthcare settings or countries.

1,277

Women completed survey

8.1%

Overall depression prevalence

3.0

Depression risk with PMS history

## About the study

Original title Prenatal multivitamins containing folic acid do not decrease prevalence of depression among pregnant women Authors Cho YJ, Han JY, Choi JS et al. Journal Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Year 2008 Study design Survey study Participants 652 What was tested Prenatal multivitamins containing folic acid Read the paper [doi.org/10.1080/01443610802196658](https://doi.org/10.1080/01443610802196658)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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