Vitamin D Deficiency and Disparities in Adverse Perinatal Outcomes including Depression

Speaker:

Eynav E. Accortt, Ph.D.,

Assistant Professor and Clinical Psychologist, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA

Summary of Session Goals:

African American women have the highest rates of prenatal and postpartum depression as well as adverse perinatal outcomes (e.g. preterm delivery & low birth weight babies) compared to other racial groups in the U.S. They are at increased risk for vitamin D deficiency because darker skin limits synthesis of vitamin D and due to lower intake of supplemental vitamin D. An exciting and novel area of research focuses on vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory properties and possible anti-depressant effects.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify symptoms, prevalence and consequences of depression and anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum, with a focus on racial disparities
2. Learn about the links between perinatal depression and vitamin D and inflammation
3. Become familiar with research on adverse perinatal outcomes, including depression, and postpartum multi-systemic dysregulation, as measured by high allostatic load

A live webcast sponsored by:

The Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science a program of The New York Academy of Sciences, and The Rockefeller University Hospital Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), and Clinical Directors Network, Inc. (CDN)

Date: 

Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST

Slideset – 

Vitamin D Deficiency and Disparities in Adverse Perinatal Outcomes including Depression (PDF)

Publications –

Accortt EE, Mirocha J, Schetter CD, Hobel CJ. Adverse perinatal outcomes and postpartum multi-systemic dysregulation: adding vitamin D deficiency to the allostatic load index. Maternal and child health journal. 2017 Mar 1;21(3):398-406. PMID: 28120286

Accortt EE, Schetter CD, Peters RM, Cassidy-Bushrow AE. Lower prenatal vitamin D status and postpartum depressive symptomatology in African American women: Preliminary evidence for moderation by inflammatory cytokines. Archives of women’s mental health. 2016 Apr 1;19(2):373-83. PMID: 26407996

Accortt EE, Cheadle AC, Schetter CD. Prenatal depression and adverse birth outcomes: an updated systematic review. Maternal and child health journal. 2015 Jun 1;19(6):1306-37. PMID: 25452215

Evaluations –

This webcast has been approved for up to 1.0 Prescribed CME/CNE credits by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).Credits valid until  February 1, 2019.

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