Exercise, Mediterranean Diet Adherence or Both during Pregnancy to Prevent Postpartum Depression—GESTAFIT Trial Secondary Analyses

Marta Flor-Alemany (), Jairo H. Migueles, Inmaculada Alemany-Arrebola, Virginia A. Aparicio and Laura Baena-García
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Marta Flor-Alemany: Department of Physiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Jairo H. Migueles: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
Inmaculada Alemany-Arrebola: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education and Sports Sciences, University of Granada, 52005 Melilla, Spain
Virginia A. Aparicio: Department of Physiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Laura Baena-García: Sport and Health University Research Institute (IMUDS), 18007 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Targeting lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy is crucial to prevent the highly prevalent postpartum depression and its consequences. In these secondary analyses of an intervention trial to investigate the effects of concurrent exercise training on postpartum depression, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence on the exercise effects. A total of 85 pregnant women met the per-protocol criteria (exercise n = 46, control n = 39). The exercise program was delivered in 60 min sessions, 3 days/week, from the 17th gestational week until birth. Women’s dietary habits were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The Mediterranean Food Pattern (an MD index) was derived from it to assess MD adherence. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess postpartum depression. The postpartum depression score was not statistically different between control and exercise groups ( p > 0.05). A higher consumption of fruits (β = −0.242, p = 0.022), lower intake of red meat and subproducts (β = 0.244, p = 0.020), and a greater MD adherence (β = −0.236, p = 0.027) were associated with lower levels of postpartum depression. Greater adherence to the MD during pregnancy was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and a lower risk of postpartum depression. Postnatal depression was not reduced by prenatal exercise. Promoting fruit consumption while controlling the intake of red meat during pregnancy might prevent postnatal depression.

Keywords: depression; diet; Mediterranean; exercise; postpartum period; pregnant women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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