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.
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:
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.