The Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan is now researching whether there is a connection between insulin levels and postpartum mood disorders. According to the abstract:
The drop in the insulin level during the postpartum period appears to be more sudden and abrupt than the rise of insulin level during pregnancy. Recent studies have showed that insulin affects the secretion of serotonin in the brain. While serotonergic nervous system is well known for its important role in the development of mood disorders, decreased insulin level may induce mood disorders through the mechanism of affecting serotonin secretion in the brain. In the current paper, we propose that the rapid decrease in insulin level during the postpartum period may be one of the causes of postpartum mood disorders. If the hypothesis is valid, clinicians may be able to prevent postpartum mood disorders by carbohydrate-rich food during the postpartum period to stimulate the secretion of insulin.
Wouldn’t that be great if that was it? We could all just eat lots of cookies and ice cream and get better! Anyway, as Helena Bradford pointed out, this is interesting. It’s the first I’ve seen of any suggestion to a connection with insulin.
I am very interested in this insulin-mood disorder potential connection. I had gestational diabetes during pregnancy and, in retrospect, I think my mood problems developed/worsened during my last trimester when I was checking my blood sugar 4 times a day. I know all of my mood issues are physically based, but this just adds another interesting element to consider.
At a fundraiser for the Society of Women's Health Research, I sat next to a doctor from Georgetown University Hospital who is involved in a study on Cortisol. He felt this could have significant ramifications for women with PPD. Since so many of the symptons of PPD have to do with high stress or manic reactions, this sets the women on edge and prevents her from sleeping, eating, etc. etc.