van Lee L, et al. – The main purpose of the present study was to explore the relation of plasma tryptophan concentrations during pregnancy with sleep quality, and mood during and after pregnancy. It was observed in the findings that higher plasma tryptophan concentrations were related to a 12% lower prevalence of poor sleep quality during pregnancy, in particular among those with anxiety symptoms. This research suggested the importance of having adequate tryptophan concentrations during pregnancy.

Methods

• For this research, pregnant women (n=572) from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes study finished the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at 26–28 weeks gestation and 3 months post-delivery.
• The authors in this study measured plasma tryptophan concentrations at 26–28 weeks gestation.
• In addition, poisson regressions estimated prevalence ratios (PR) for the relationship between tryptophan and poor sleep quality (PSQI global score>5), probable antenatal depression (EPDS≥15) and probable anxiety (STAI-state≥41) were calculated adjusting for covariates.

Results

• It was observed in the findings that mean plasma tryptophan concentrations was 48.0 µmol/L (SD: 8.09).
• Findings revealed that higher plasma tryptophan concentrations were related to a lower prevalence of antenatal poor sleep quality adjusting for covariates [PR: 0.88 (95% CI 0.80, 0.97) per 10 µmol/L], particularly in those members who also suffered from anxiety symptoms [PR: 0.80 (95% CI 0.67, 0.95)].
• They did not find associations between tryptophan concentrations during pregnancy and postnatal sleep quality or mental well-being.