Supplements Archives - MGH Center for Women's Mental Health

Caffeine and Pregnancy: How Much is Safe?

Many women ask about the safety of drinking caffeinated beverages during pregnancy. A recent study looked at this question, analyzing data from the NICHD Fetal Growth Studies–Singletons, which included a group of 2,055 nonsmoking women at low risk for fetal growth problems. Caffeine consumption was evaluated using plasma concentrations of caffeine and paraxanthine (a metabolite of caffeine) and self-reported caffeinated beverage consumption at 10 to 13 weeks gestation.

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-04-23T12:21:43-04:00April 20th, 2021|Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

Probiotics for Prenatal Depression and Anxiety: Underscoring the Need for More Research

Although we have data on the reproductive safety of various medications used to treat anxiety, many women would understandably prefer to avoid medications when possible. Many women ask about alternative treatments, including dietary supplements, herbal [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2021-03-01T10:33:45-04:00March 2nd, 2021|Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

Is St. John’s Wort Effective for PMDD?

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal preparation which has been shown, in some studies, to be effective for the treatment of mild to moderate depressive symptoms. St. John’s wort is now one [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-11-17T16:02:59-04:00October 27th, 2020|Depression, Premenstrual Syndrome, Supplements|0 Comments

Do Perimenopausal Women Benefit from Melatonin?

Melatonin is a hormone which is normally secreted by the pineal gland; its levels rise at night when it is dark and fall during the morning hours in response to daylight. Melatonin is involved [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-07-09T13:56:34-04:00March 10th, 2020|Menopausal Symptoms, Menopause, Sleep Disorders, Supplements|0 Comments

Clinical Update 2020: Melatonin and Pregnancy

Many women experience some degree of sleep disturbance during pregnancy. For a significant number of women, the sleep disruption may be so severe as to require some type of intervention. Sleep disturbance is not [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2020-11-04T15:14:51-04:00March 3rd, 2020|Fertility, Infertility and Mental Health, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Sleep Disorders, Supplements|0 Comments

Valproic Acid: Highlighting Risk and Modifying Prescribing Patterns in Reproductive Age Women

For clinicians who have not yet discovered the incredibly thoughtful and clinically practical monthly articles from Chittaranjan Andrade in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, it’s time to take a look. (Not only are these articles [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2019-04-05T08:04:27-04:00July 3rd, 2018|Anticonvulsants, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcomes, Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

Neural Tube Defects and Low Carb Diets During Pregnancy

Because folate deficiency in pregnant women has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, including anencephaly and spina bifida, it is recommended that all women take folic acid supplements during pregnancy. [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2018-09-10T12:34:32-04:00February 21st, 2018|Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

In Brief: Folate Supplements During Pregnancy Reduce Risk of Autism

Mothers exposed to household or agricultural pesticides immediately before and during their pregnancies have a higher risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, a recent study from California indicates that taking [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2017-11-08T22:20:23-04:00October 16th, 2017|Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

Do DHA Supplements Make Babies Smarter? Yes, No, Maybe…

DHA or docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid which is essential for the growth and development of the brain in infants and is required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults. Based on [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2017-03-31T13:40:58-04:00March 31st, 2017|Pregnancy, Supplements|0 Comments

Dietary Supplements to Prevent Postpartum Depression? Proceed with Caution

Over the last few days, there has been a lot of buzz regarding the use of a nutritional supplement to reduce risk of postpartum depression. Quoting one of these articles: "'Women who take the supplement [...]

By MGH Center for Women's Mental Health|2017-03-21T09:54:44-04:00March 21st, 2017|Alternative Medicine, Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders, Supplements|0 Comments