Pregnancy calcium levels positively impact childhood depression risk, according to a recent study.

In a groundbreaking study published in May in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, researchers from Ehime University have found a potential link between the calcium intake of pregnant women and the emotional well-being of their children.

The study, led by Professor Yoshihiro Miyake, involved 873 pairs of mothers and their children who participated in follow-up research when the children were 13 years old. The team divided participants into four groups based on their calcium intake during pregnancy.

The researchers calculated the calcium intake of the women during pregnancy based on a survey of their individual diets, excluding supplements. The highest calcium intake during pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms among children. The median daily calcium consumption for women in the group with the highest intake was around 675 milligrams.

To determine the depressive symptoms of the 13-year-old children, the team used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Scores of 16 or above were defined as indicating depressive symptoms.

In the group with the highest calcium intake, 18.7% of the children showed depressive symptoms. In contrast, in the group with the lowest calcium intake, 28% of the children showed depressive symptoms. This calcium intake is close to the recommended amount for women aged between 18 and 29.

Professor Miyake claimed that the study identified one factor causing depressive symptoms among children. However, he emphasised that further research is required to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.

The study is the first to examine the link between pregnant women and their children and depressive symptoms. The research used data from a health study of mothers and their children in the Kyushu region in southwestern Japan and Okinawa.

While the search results do not provide specific information about Japanese researchers studying the relationship between increased calcium intake during pregnancy and reduced risk of depressive symptoms in children, this study opens up an exciting area of research for mental health and nutrition.

Pregnancy calcium levels positively impact childhood depression risk, according to a recent study.