Association between dietary inflammatory index and the risk of postpartum depression in China.

作者信息

Zhang Guoquan, Lin Hongyan, Ren Qinghan, Yin Lina, Zhao Jie, Yang Fan, Li Zhenshu, Ran Jingjing, Liu Huan, Li Wen, Huang Guowei, Yan Jing

机构信息

Department of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China; Department of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Zhungeer Banner Disease Prevention and Control Center, Ordos 017100, China.

Department of Nutrition, Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300250, China.

出版信息

J Affect Disord. 2025 Sep 1;384:135-143. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.05.015. Epub 2025 May 9.

DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2025.05.015

PMID:40334855

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects numerous women globally, impairing maternal and infant health and contributing to substantial socioeconomic burdens on both families and society. This study aimed to investigate the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and PPD in Chinese women, and explore whether inflammatory cytokines mediate this association.

METHODS

The study recruited 2038 participants and collected data from them. The Chinese version of the Self-Rating Depression Scale was used to assess postpartum depressive symptoms, and the DII scores were evaluated using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). To ensure balanced groups, researchers performed propensity score matching. From the matched participants, 126 blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Researchers used logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) between the DII tertiles, inflammatory markers, and PPD. Finally, researchers conducted a mediation analysis using the bootstrap method to examine the relationship between DII, inflammation, and PPD.

RESULTS

Among 2038 participants, 742 (36.4 %) participants were identified as having PPD symptoms. The higher DII scores were associated with PPD, and its significance still exists after a series of factors were adjusted (T2 vs T1: OR = 1.24, 95 % CI: 0.99, 1.55, P > 0.05; T3 vs T1: OR = 1.33, 95 % CI: 1.06, 1.66, P < 0.05). In addition, a higher level of CRP was associated with increased odds of PPD (OR = 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.13, 1.59, P < 0.05). The mediation analysis showed that a direct effect of DII on PPD persisted, and CRP mediated the relationship between DII and PPD.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher DII was associated with an increased risk of PPD in Chinese women. The present finding reinforces the importance of limiting pro-inflammatory food consumed and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet to decrease the risk of PPD.

摘要