The role of pterins and related factors in the biology of early postpartumdepression

Plasma tryptophan and other putative amino acids, cortisol, folate and vita min B12 and urinary biopterin (B) and neopterins (N) were measured in three groups of women: 62 women in the early postpartum period, 23 pregnant and 38 non-gravid controls. Sixty-two postpartum women were screened for depres sion by the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) on day 7 after deli very. Postpartum women had significantly lower tryptophan, vitamin B12 and significantly greater levels of cortisol, folate, neopterins and biopterins than controls. Comparisons between women who were classified on the EPDS a s cases and non-cases revealed only a statistically significant difference for lower N:B (P<0.01) and lower folate (P<0.01) ratio in cases than non-ca ses. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant contribution for low tryptophan to increased EPDS which also showed significant correlations wi th low methionine, low tyrosine, low N:B ratio and high vitamin B12. (C) 19 99 Elsevier Science B.V./ECNP. All rights reserved.