Expectant mothers may benefit from adding more fish to their diets, according to new research that suggests many pregnant women who suffer postpartum depression are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids.

The findings, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, are based on a review of studies of omega-3 fatty acids and depression in women led by Gabriel Shapiro of the University of Montreal and the Research Centre at the Sainte-Justine Mother and Child Hospital.
"The literature shows that there could be a link between pregnancy, omega-3 and the chemical reaction that enables serotonin, a mood regulator, to be released into our brains," Shapiro said. "Many women could bring their omega-3 intake to recommended levels."
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Women are at the highest risk of depression during their childbearing years, Shapiro said, and the birth of a child can trigger a depressive episode in vulnerable women — posing health risks to mother and child alike.
Because omega-3 is transferred from the mother to her fetus and later to her breastfeeding infant, maternal omega-3 levels tend to decrease during pregnancy, and remain lower for at least six weeks following the birth.
"These findings suggest that new screening strategies and prevention practices may be useful," Shapiro said, calling for additional research to clarify the link and identify the reasons for it.