Vitamin B6 status in women with postpartum depression

We have assessed the vitamin B6 status of 40 nonpregnant women of reproductive age, 30 pregnant women, 20 postpartum, not depressed, women and 24 postpartum, depressed women by means of the erythrocyte glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase activation test (alpha EGOT). The level of mental depression was evaluated in the nonpregnant controls, the postpartum controls and the postpartum, depressed patients by the Beck Depression Inventory and the Depression Adjective Check Lists. The results of the alpha EGOT did not indicate any significant differences between the postpartum, depressed patients and any of the control groups. The Beck and Depression Adjective Check Lists scores were significantly higher in the postpartum depressed patients than in the postpartum controls or nonpregnant controls. On the basis of this study, there is no evidence for vitamin B6 deficiency in women suffering from postpartum depression.