The incidence of postpartum depression is 13 percent, and some severe cases last for more than a year. A new study announced at the American Congress of Experimental Biology found that eating fish properly during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of postpartum depression, foreign media reported April 13. Omega-3 fatty acids in deep-sea fatty fish such as salmon are key to the effect. In the new study, completed by researchers at the University of Connecticut, 26 pregnant women took one Omega-3 fatty acid-containing DHA capsule five times a day, five times a week, at about 24 weeks’ gestation. The other 26 pregnant women took a placebo containing corn oil. A comparative analysis of the questionnaire results of postpartum depression symptoms among the participating women found that women who took capsules with Omega-3 fatty acid DHA during pregnancy scored higher on the questionnaire, and these women experienced less anxiety and feelings of lost self-worth after giving birth. Dr. Michelle Price Gage, head of the new study, said the new findings suggest that proper supplementation with normal dietary levels of DHA during pregnancy can help reduce symptoms of postpartum depression. Some people love to supplement DHA through supplements, however, eating fish for DHA is better. Eating salmon, mackerel, sardines or trout twice a week is recommended to meet the body’s need for DHA and achieve a reduced risk of postpartum depression. However, experts caution that fish should be eaten in moderation during pregnancy to maintain a balanced diet, as excessive consumption of fatty fish is detrimental to normal fetal development. Early studies also found that children whose mothers ate fish during pregnancy had better sociability and social skills at age 7.