Serum Vitamin D3 and Lipid Profile in Women At-risk and Not At-risk of Postpartum Depression: A Hospital-based, Cross-sectional, Analytical Study

Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common psychiatric disorder associated with adverse maternal and child outcomes. Vitamin D3 deficiency and dysregulated lipid metabolism have been implicated in depressive disorders, but their relationship with PPD remains insufficiently explored. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between serum Vitamin D3 levels, lipid profile parameters, and risk of developing PPD among postpartum women. This hospital-based, cross-sectional, analytical study included 138 postpartum women assessed within 1–7 days of delivery. Participants were categorized as at-risk of PPD (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score ≥10; n = 69) or controls (EPDS <10; n = 69). Serum vitamin D3 levels and lipid profile parameters were measured using standardized laboratory methods. Group comparisons, correlation analyses, Fisher’s r-to-z transformation, and regression analyses were performed. Women at-risk of PPD showed lower vitamin D3 levels and relatively more atherogenic lipid profiles than controls, although these differences were not statistically significant. Within the at-risk group, depressive symptom severity did not differ significantly across Vitamin D3 categories. Correlation analyses demonstrated significant inverse associations between Vitamin D3 and total cholesterol ( r = −0.347, P = 0.003), triglycerides ( r = −0.327, P = 0.006), and high-density lipoprotein ( r = −0.324, P = 0.007) among controls but not among women at-risk of PPD. Fisher’s r-to-z transformation revealed significant between-group differences in correlations involving Vitamin D3 and several lipid parameters. Altered associations between Vitamin D3 and lipid parameters may characterize women vulnerable to PPD. Longitudinal studies are required to clarify the temporal and mechanistic significance of these findings.