Morning sickness, including nausea and vomiting, is one of the most common signs of pregnancy. 50 to 90 percent of women report experiencing some degree of morning sickness. It can strike any time of the day or night and usually occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, likely as a result of hormonal changes. Most women with morning sickness find relief as they enter their second trimester. Thought treatment of morning sickness is unnecessary for most women, some seek natural remedies. Vitamin B-6 is thought by some to alleviate morning sickness. Please seek the advice of your medical professional before using vitamin B-6 or any natural supplement.
Vitamin B-6 Facts
Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble vitamin important for good health that you will find in many common foods. It is also sold in pill form as a dietary supplement. Vitamin B-6 helps with protein metabolism, nervous and immune system function, and stable blood sugar level. It is rare to find severe vitamin B-6 deficiency in developed countries because of its presence in popular foods, but vitamin B-6 deficiency can cause anemia, depression, seizures, confusion, skin irritation and a sore tongue.
Function
Results from a study on women with morning sickness at the University of Iowa showed that women who received vitamin B-6 supplements were more likely to report relief of the intensity of their symptoms than were women who did not receive vitamin B-6. However, overall results from similar studies give conflicting reports regarding the efficacy of using vitamin B-6 to combat morning sickness. This has led some medical professionals to believe that there is minimal, if any, benefit to taking a vitamin B6 supplement.
Sources of Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-6 is found naturally in a variety of foods. Fortified cereals are a good source, as is meat, poultry, fish, beans, nuts, and peanut butter. In addition, fruits and vegetables including spinach, avocados, bananas, and potatoes contain B-6. Some women prefer to add a dietary supplement of vitamin B-6 to their diet, though supplements cannot replace a healthy diet. The American Pregnancy Association recommends that pregnant women with morning sickness take a vitamin B-6 supplement of 25 to 50 mg per day, if indicated.
Considerations
Remember that you need to consult with a health care provider before adding any supplements to your diet. Consuming too much vitamin B-6 may cause nerve damage to your arms and legs. For most adults, consuming over 100 mg of vitamin B-6 per day increases health risks mentioned above. It is unlikely that you will exceed the upper limit of intake with a proper diet but adding vitamin B-6 supplement increases the likelihood that you will go over the recommended daily limit.
References
- Mayo Clinic
- NIH office of Dietary Supplements
- American Pregnancy Association
- American Journal of Obstetrics/Gynecology. Overview of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with an emphasis on vitamins and ginger. Niebyl JR, Goodwin TM. May 2002
