Pregnancy sickness, also known as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), is a common condition that affects up to 80% of pregnant women. However, for some women, the symptoms can be so severe that they develop a life-threatening complication called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which can cause dehydration, malnutrition, weight loss, and fetal growth restriction.
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Scientists have been working hard to understand the causes and treatments of pregnancy sickness, and have recently made some significant breakthroughs that could improve the health and well-being of millions of women and their babies.
One of the breakthroughs is the discovery of a toxic protein named cis P-tau, which was found in the blood and placenta of women with HG. This protein is known to cause brain damage and neurodegeneration in diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers from the University of Southern California and the University of California, Irvine, have shown that cis P-tau can impair the function of the placenta and cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the mother and the fetus³.
The researchers also found that cis P-tau can be blocked by a drug called NAP, which is currently in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. They showed that NAP can prevent cis P-tau from accumulating in the placenta and blood, and can reverse the symptoms of HG in mice. They hope that NAP could be a potential treatment for HG in humans, and are planning to conduct a clinical trial in the near future.
Another breakthrough is the development of a diagnostic test that can measure the levels of a vital molecule called NAD in women. NAD is essential for many cellular processes, including energy production, DNA repair, and gene expression. A deficiency in NAD can cause birth defects and miscarriage in some families.
In 2017, a team of researchers from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia discovered that NAD deficiency, birth defects, and miscarriage can be prevented by giving vitamin B3 (niacin) supplements to pregnant mice². They also identified a genetic mutation that causes NAD deficiency in some humans, and suggested that vitamin B3 supplementation could be a simple and cheap way to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes in these cases.
However, not all women with NAD deficiency have the same mutation, and the optimal dose and timing of vitamin B3 supplementation are still unknown. To address these issues, the researchers have developed a test that can accurately measure NAD and vitamin B3 levels in urine and blood samples. They are now conducting a clinical study in Sydney, Australia, to determine the healthy range of NAD in women of child-bearing age, and to identify the proportion of women who might benefit from increasing their vitamin B3 intake².
A third breakthrough is the narrowing of the time frame that pregnancy sickness is most likely to start in most women. Researchers from the University of Warwick in the UK have analysed data from more than 2,300 pregnant women, and found that the onset of NVP symptoms can be predicted with 70% accuracy within a three-day window⁴.
This finding could help scientists to identify a biological cause for pregnancy sickness, and to develop more effective treatments and preventive strategies. It could also help women to plan their pregnancy and work schedules, and to seek medical help if their symptoms are severe or prolonged.
These breakthroughs are the result of years of hard work and collaboration among scientists, doctors, and patients from different countries and disciplines. They represent a major advance in the field of pregnancy research, and could have a huge impact on the lives of millions of women and their babies around the world.
