Can These 6 Supplements Help With Postpartum Depression?
Health ConditionsPregnancyPostpartum Depression

Can These 6 Supplements Help Manage Postpartum Depression?

Can These 6 Supplements Help Manage Postpartum Depression?
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Published on September 12, 2026
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Pregnancy places extra nutritional demands on the body, which means some women may enter the postpartum period already low in certain nutrients.

That matters because low levels of key nutrients like vitamin D and iron have been linked with postpartum depression (PPD), a mood disorder that can cause persistent sadness, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and other symptoms after childbirth.

 But experts say there’s an important caveat to keep in mind: Nutritional deficiencies may be associated with PPD without actually causing it — and supplements alone won’t treat postpartum depression.

“Nutrition studies are patently difficult to conduct, so we really need more high-quality studies to demonstrate the link and show which nutrients deserve the most attention,” says Erica Golden, RDN, the founder of Nourished Mind Nutrition in Colorado Springs, Colorado, who specializes in mental health nutrition.

Here’s what the research says about six postnatal supplements commonly linked to PPD and postpartum mood.

1. Vitamin D: Worth Addressing if Your Levels Are Low

Low vitamin D after childbirth may carry over from pregnancy, when deficiency is relatively common because of the body’s increased nutritional demands for the baby’s development.

Vitamin D is involved in brain health and neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt and change, Golden points out.

 It also has one of the stronger links to PPD. Nine of 13 studies included in a recent systematic review linked lower vitamin D levels with postpartum depression symptoms.

And supplements do show some promise, though it’s unclear whether the benefits depend on having low vitamin D levels to begin with. A meta-analysis of randomized trials found a small to moderate improvement in PPD symptoms with vitamin D supplementation compared with control groups, but the researchers noted that most studies did not assess participants’ nutritional status at baseline.

Ludmila De Faria, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville and the chair of the American Psychiatric Association’s Council on Women’s Mental Health, agrees that deficiencies should be addressed. But she underscores that there isn’t enough evidence to recommend vitamin D for treating or preventing PPD. “Vitamin D levels should be corrected [postpartum] if they’re low as part of good quality medical care,” she says.

2. Omega-3s: Promising, but the Research Is Mixed

Omega-3 fatty acids are important healthy fats during pregnancy and postpartum, but many women don’t get enough, particularly if they eat little or no fish or seafood.

Because omega-3s play a role in brain function, researchers have studied whether low intake could be connected to depression.

 Some studies have linked lower omega-3 fatty acid levels with a higher risk of PPD, although findings have been inconsistent.

 “Of course, that’s associative data, so it doesn’t prove causation,” Golden says.
Research on supplementation has also produced conflicting results. A recent meta-analysis of randomized trials found that omega-3 supplementation did not significantly improve PPD symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women being treated for depression or anxiety, compared with control groups.

Dr. De Faria says overall, the evidence isn’t strong enough to recommend omega-3 supplements for treating or preventing PPD.

3. Iron: Especially Important After Significant Blood Loss

Pregnancy requires extra iron, so some women may enter the postpartum period with low iron stores — and blood loss during childbirth can deplete them further.

Iron deficiency means the body’s iron stores are low — and if levels drop enough, it can lead to iron-deficiency anemia (low levels of healthy red blood cells).

 Low iron can cause fatigue, weakness, and difficulty concentrating — symptoms that can also occur with depression.

Some research has linked iron deficiency and anemia with PPD, although the evidence isn’t conclusive.

 “Several large studies have shown a correlation between low iron status in the immediate postpartum period, based on either ferritin or hemoglobin, and increased risk of postpartum depression,” Golden says. “But there is still some conflicting data here.”

In other words, iron supplements can restore low iron levels and treat iron-deficiency anemia, but that doesn’t make them a treatment for PPD. “Supplementing with iron in the absence of iron deficiency can cause problems,” Golden says. “I recommend only taking an iron supplement if lab results have shown that you need one.”

4. Vitamin B12 and Folate: Important but Not Proven PPD Treatments

Pregnancy increases the body’s need for B12 and folate, so inadequate levels may carry into the postpartum period. People who eat plant-based diets may be particularly at risk for B12 deficiency.

Both these B vitamins support the nervous system and help the body make neurotransmitters, the brain chemicals involved in regulating mood, which may help explain researchers’ interest in their connection to PPD.

 But potential connections have been less conclusive, and research hasn’t been able to clearly connect B12 or folate deficiencies with PPD.

“Supplementing B vitamins could be useful in cases of deficiency or inadequate intake,” Golden says, noting that this may include people who avoid grains or follow plant-based or vegan diets. “However, I would say the evidence [connecting these nutrients] with PPD isn’t as strong.”

Despite the usefulness of folate or B12 supplements for correcting a deficiency or inadequate intake, De Faria underscores that there isn’t enough evidence that these supplements can treat or prevent PPD.

 “Supplements are not a standard of care for PPD because they haven’t been studied enough and more research is needed,” De Faria says.

5. Zinc: There’s a Link, but It’s Too Soon to Recommend It

Zinc requirements increase during pregnancy, and as with B12 and folate, people who follow plant-based diets may be at an even greater risk of not getting enough.

That said, only limited research has linked lower zinc levels with greater PPD symptoms.

 A meta-analysis of randomized trials found that mineral supplements, including zinc, weren’t significantly better than placebo for PPD.

One potential challenge is that inflammation can affect zinc levels in the blood, making zinc status more difficult to interpret, Golden says.

 “Research on zinc and postpartum depression is tricky, because zinc levels go down as inflammation goes up,” she adds, which may be a particularly important factor to consider in the postpartum period. In fact, a recent study that measured zinc during pregnancy and at three months postpartum accounted for signs of inflammation when assessing participants’ zinc levels.

For now, though, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend zinc supplements in place of established PPD care. “Supplements [like zinc] are better used as an adjunct to established treatments, like psychotherapy and medication, as opposed to replacing them,” De Faria says.

6. Magnesium: Evidence for PPD Is Weak

Magnesium needs increase during pregnancy, and many pregnant women don’t get enough from food alone.

Magnesium helps regulate brain signaling and the body’s stress response — processes that are also involved in mood and depression — which is one reason researchers have explored whether having a magnesium deficiency may be connected to PPD. But evidence connecting it with PPD is lacking.

 A recent systematic review didn’t find enough evidence to establish a link between magnesium levels and PPD.

Similarly, a meta-analysis of randomized trials found that mineral supplements, including magnesium supplements, weren’t significantly better than a placebo for PPD.

“There is mixed data that correcting a deficiency or adding a supplement reliably improves PPD,” De Faria says. For magnesium specifically, she says there isn’t enough evidence to recommend it for treating or preventing postpartum depression.

So, When Should You Take a Supplement for PPD?

Nutritional needs shift significantly during pregnancy and postpartum.

“The heightened nutritional needs of pregnancy can cause some women to head into postpartum with preexisting deficiencies, especially if they’re not adequately meeting those pregnancy-related needs,” Golden says.

But taking supplements without knowing whether you need them can also carry risks, so it’s important to discuss them with a healthcare provider first.

Golden acknowledges why supplements may be especially appealing during the postpartum period.

“Supplements can feel like an easy way to do something for yourself in the midst of doing so much more for your babies,” Golden says. “But generally, nutrient supplementation is only relevant when deficiencies or insufficiencies exist — so more is not always better.”

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Cristina Mutchler

Cristina Mutchler

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Cristina Mutchler is an award-winning journalist with more than a decade of experience covering health and wellness content for national outlets. She previously worked at CNN, News...

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