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.
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
Topics
Related studies
Cohort study, 2026
Does having PMS before pregnancy increase the risk of postpartum depression?
Systematic review, 2026
Why do some women experience mood changes linked to their menstrual cycle?
Cohort study, 2026
Do premenstrual disorder and postpartum depression share the same genetic causes?
Cohort study, 2025
Is there a link between premenstrual disorders and autoimmune disease?
Cohort study, 2025
Do women with a history of PMS or PMDD have more depression during pregnancy and after birth?
Case-control study, 2024
Do steroid hormone levels change differently across the menstrual cycle in women with PMDD?