A ASSOCIAÇÃO DE ÁCIDO FOLICO E A DEPRESSÃO PÓS PARTO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.6542414105

• Palavras-chave: Deficiência de ácido fólico, Depressão Pós-Parto, Gravidez

• Keywords: Folic acid deficiency, Postpartum depression, Pregnancy

• Abstract: Several studies have investigated this association, highlighting that folic acid deficiency can increase the risk of postpartum depression. Folic acid plays a crucial role in regulating neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin, which is involved in mood regulation. Therefore, folic acid supplementation can help. This study used an integrative literature review, following five stages: development of a guiding question, data collection, critical analysis of the studies included, discussion of the results and presentation of the review. The guiding question was: "What is the association between low levels of folic acid during pregnancy and the development of postpartum depression?” This question was defined using the PICo strategy, which stands for Population (P), Intervention (I) and Phenomenon of Interest (Co). The application of this strategy is detailed in Table 1, where P represents pregnant women, I represents folic acid supplementation and Co represents the onset of postpartum depression. Low levels of folic acid have been associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression. Adequate folic acid supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum can help reduce this risk and improve the mental well-being of mothers. However, the effectiveness of this supplementation in reducing depressive symptoms is still a matter of debate, highlighting the need for more studies to fully understand this relationship and develop more effective interventions.