5. Zinc: There’s a Link, but It’s Too Soon to Recommend It
Zinc requirements increase during pregnancy, and as with B12 and folate, people who follow plant-based diets may be at an even greater risk of not getting enough.
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That said, only limited research has linked lower zinc levels with greater PPD symptoms.
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A meta-analysis of randomized trials found that mineral supplements, including zinc, weren’t significantly better than placebo for PPD.[6]
One potential challenge is that inflammation can affect zinc levels in the blood, making zinc status more difficult to interpret, Golden says.
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“Research on zinc and postpartum depression is tricky, because zinc levels go down as inflammation goes up,” she adds, which may be a particularly important factor to consider in the postpartum period. In fact, a recent study that measured zinc during pregnancy and at three months postpartum accounted for signs of inflammation when assessing participants’ zinc levels.[14]
For now, though, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend zinc supplements in place of established PPD care. “Supplements [like zinc] are better used as an adjunct to established treatments, like psychotherapy and medication, as opposed to replacing them,” De Faria says.
