Breakthrough in Morning Sickness Research Offers Promising Solutions
Discovering the root cause of morning sickness brings hope for effective treatment options, providing relief to pregnant individuals who suffer from its severe forms Join us to learn more about this groundbreaking research
Pregnancy often leads to a common condition known as morning sickness, with some experiencing such severe forms that hospitalization is necessary. Even fatalities have occurred. Recognizing the severity, scientists have long sought to identify the cause and work towards finding a cure.
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New research published in Nature this week suggests that certain pregnant individuals may be more sensitive to a hormone called GDF15. This hormone is naturally produced at low levels in the body, but during pregnancy, the growing fetus can lead to an increased production of GDF15, resulting in nausea and vomiting. Previous studies with cancer patients have shown that excessive GDF15 production can cause chronic nausea and weight loss.
Building on a 2018 study that found a connection between the gene controlling GDF15 and pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting in 53,000 women, the new paper further establishes this link between the hormone and the condition. This was accomplished through a comprehensive approach that utilized genetic information, data from a new hormone testing method to measure hormone levels in pregnant individuals, as well as studies with mice and in the laboratory.
During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, researchers discovered that levels of GDF15 increase. The more sensitive a pregnant woman is to this hormone, as well as the higher levels produced by the fetus, the more likely she is to experience sickness. Conversely, when the fetus produces less GDF15, the risk of experiencing sickness appears to decrease. Pre-pregnancy exposure to the hormone may also play a role in the likelihood of getting sick during pregnancy.
Additionally, the scientists examined studies showing that individuals with a specific inherited blood disorder and high pre-pregnancy levels of GDF15 rarely experienced sickness during pregnancy. In contrast, those with a rare genetic variant causing low GDF15 levels faced a much higher risk of hyperemesis gravidarum. The researchers also noted that mice exposed to high levels of GDF15 lost their appetite, indicating potential nausea. However, when the mice were treated with a long-acting form of the hormone, their appetite returned to normal.
When morning sickness becomes dangerous
About 70% to 80% of people who get pregnant get whats commonly called "morning sickness," although pregnant people can feel nauseated and vomit any time of day.
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More than 2% of pregnant people develop a severe form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum, or HG. This condition can be dangerous as it can lead to dehydration and weight loss for the pregnant person, and it may also have negative impacts on the baby, such as premature birth, neurodevelopmental disorders, or even miscarriage.
Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a geneticist and clinical assistant professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, is familiar with these serious effects from firsthand experience as a study co-author.
"After experiencing the loss of a baby, I was deeply compelled to uncover the underlying cause," she explained. When she began researching the causes of hyperemesis gravidarum, she found that there was a lack of substantial research, possibly stemming from doctors' dismissive attitude towards pregnant patients reporting morning sickness."
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Join us for The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Those experiencing morning sickness are often advised to take anti-nausea medications and to rest, drink fluids, and avoid triggers. Understanding the causes of morning sickness, whether severe or mild, could aid in finding a cure or better ways to alleviate symptoms.
Pregnant women suffering from HG can benefit from doctors prescribing anti-vomiting medications and vitamin B1 to protect their heart and brain, and support the baby's development. Currently, studies are being conducted to prevent hormone-induced stomach upset in cancer patients, but none have focused on pregnant individuals.
Fejzo suggested that there might be a safe way to expose individuals to the hormone before pregnancy to increase their tolerance. She has applied for a grant to conduct a trial to determine the appropriate dosage. Fejzo is committed to helping people, particularly those with HG, cope with morning sickness every day.
"Many people decide not to have a baby again after having a pregnancy like this," she said. "Theres still so much more to do. This is not the end of the story."
