Eating the placenta does not prevent postpartum depression

Eating the placenta does not prevent postpartum depression, new research reveals.

The celebrity fad favoured by sisters Kim and Kourtney Kardashian does not avoid the ‘baby blues’ in new mothers, despite boosting certain hormone levels, a US study found.

Mothers were recently advised by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) not to eat their placenta after a newborn developed life-threatening blood poisoning passed on from its mother when she took bacteria-contaminated pills.

Supporters of the practice often claim the organ contains valuable vitamins and hormones that could prevent postpartum depression.

This comes after pregnant mother-of-three Coleen Rooney, 31, who is married to ex-England football captain Wayne Rooney, told her Twitter followers in October she plans to eat placenta pills after the birth of her new arrival. She has previously said they helped her regain her pre-baby body in past pregnancies.

Kim Kardashian, who is married to rapper Kayne West, is also a fan, and took placenta pills after the birth of her second child Saint.

Coleen Rooney is a fan of placenta pills, yet research reveals they do not prevent depression

Kim Kardashian is also an advocate and took such pills after the birth of her son Saint

Kim Kardashian is also an advocate and took such pills after the birth of her son Saint

'Exciting': Coleen took to social media in October with an image of a delivery from Placenta Plus - a company that turns placentas into tablets for £200 for their supposed benefits

‘Exciting’: Coleen took to social media in October with an image of a delivery from Placenta Plus – a company that turns placentas into tablets for £200 for their supposed benefits

OTHER CELEBRITIES WHO’VE EATEN THEIR PLACENTA 

Mad Men actress January Jones credits placenta pills for giving her energy after the birth of her son Xander Dane in 2011. 

Alicia Silverstone, best known for her role in Clueless, took placenta capsules after having her son Bear Blue in 2011, calling them ‘happy pills’.

In 2013, Playboy model and Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend Holly Madison wrote on her blog saying she was planning on taking placenta pills after the birth of her daughter Rainbow. 

After baby number three, Kourtney Kardashian described her placenta pills as ‘life changing’. 

Ex-Atomic Kitten star Natasha Hamilton said taking placenta pills ‘was the best money I ever spent’ after having her fourth child.  

How the research was carried out 

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, analyzed 12 women who took placenta capsules and 15 who had placebo pills after giving birth. 

They investigated the placenta capsules’ health effects, including their ability to prevent postpartum depression.

The findings were published in the journal Women and Birth. 

‘Placentophagy doesn’t “really work”‘

Results reveal placenta capsules do not decrease a new mother’s risk of postpartum depression.  

Study author Professor Daniel Benyshek, said: ‘Our results might be seen as proof that placentophagy doesn’t “really work” because we did not find the type of clear, robust differences in maternal hormone levels or postpartum mood between the placenta group and placebo group that these types of studies are designed to detect.’

Yet the findings did show consuming the placenta influences women’s hormones, which could potentially have some benefits.   

Lead author Dr Sharon Young said: ‘While the study doesn’t provide firm support for or against the claims about the benefits of placentophagy, it does shed light on this much debated topic by providing the first results from a clinical trial specifically testing the impact of placenta supplements on postpartum hormones, mood, and energy.

‘What we have uncovered are interesting areas for future exploration, such as small impacts on hormone levels for women taking placenta capsules, and small improvements in mood and fatigue in the placenta group.’ 

Coleen's took placenta pills after the birth of her third son Kit in January of last year

Coleen’s took placenta pills after the birth of her third son Kit in January of last year

‘Eating the placenta borders on cannibalism’ 

This comes after a study by the Medical University of Vienna earlier this year found the placenta contains insufficient levels of nutrients, such as zinc, iron and selenium, to benefit women’s health.

It may also accumulate heavy metals, which could cause seizures and life-threatening complications if ingested, according to the researchers.

Study author Dr Alex Farr said: ‘Medically speaking, the placenta is a waste product. 

‘Most mammals eat the placenta after birth, but we can only guess why they do so. 

‘After the placenta is genetically part of the newborn, eating the placenta borders on cannibalism.’ 

Coleen Rooney claims the pills have multiple benefits

In October, Coleen Rooney took to Twitter with an image of a delivery from Placenta Plus – a company that turns the organ into tablets with the message of providing women with its supposed nutrients after birth.

The WAG captioned the picture: ‘Thank you so much for my gorgeous surprise box @PlacentaPlus1… exciting!’

It is not the first time Coleen has indulged in the £200-practice, having praised placenta pills for making her more energised, boosting her milk production and helping with weight loss after the birth of her third son Kit in January last year.

Supporters believe it aids pregnancy recovery  

The placenta is most commonly consumed in capsule form, but can be eaten raw, cooked, dehydrated or in smoothies.

Supporters of the practice often claim the organ contains valuable vitamins and hormones that could boost a new mother’s milk production, prevent postpartum depression, provide energy and aid recovery after pregnancy.



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