by A recent study led by researchers at the University of Cambridge has shed light on why many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, and why some, such as the Duchess of Cambridge, suffer from severe symptoms that require hospitalization. The study discovered that the hormone, GDF15, produced by the fetus is responsible for pregnancy sickness. However, the severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of GDF15 produced by the fetus as well as the mother’s prior exposure to the hormone.
The findings, published in Nature, suggest a potential way to prevent pregnancy sickness by exposing mothers to GDF15 before they become pregnant in order to build up their resilience. Nausea and vomiting affect as many as 7 in 10 pregnancies, with severe cases, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, occurring in 1 to 3 out of 100 pregnancies. Hyperemesis gravidarum can be life-threatening for both the mother and the fetus and often necessitates intravenous fluid replacement to prevent dehydration. It is also the primary cause of hospitalization among women in the first trimester of pregnancy.
While there are existing therapies to manage pregnancy sickness, many women receive inadequate treatment due to a lack of awareness about the condition and concerns about using medication during pregnancy. Until recently, the cause of pregnancy sickness was unknown. However, recent biochemical and genetic studies have suggested that the hormone GDF15, produced by the placenta, plays a role in causing nausea and vomiting in expectant mothers by affecting the brain.
The international study involved researchers from the University of Cambridge, as well as institutions in Scotland, the United States, and Sri Lanka. The team analyzed data from women enrolled in various studies, including those conducted at the Rosie Maternity Hospital and Peterborough City Hospital in the United Kingdom. The researchers utilized a combination of human genetics, new methods for measuring hormones in pregnant women’s blood, and studies in cells and mice.
The study revealed that the severity of pregnancy sickness is directly related to both the quantity of GDF15 produced by the fetus and its impact on the mother’s sensitivity to the hormone. GDF15 is typically produced at low levels in non-pregnant tissues. The mother’s sensitivity to the hormone during pregnancy is influenced by her prior exposure to GDF15, with women who have low levels of the hormone in their blood being at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
The research team also discovered that a rare genetic variant associated with a higher risk of hyperemesis gravidarum is linked to lower levels of GDF15 in the blood and non-pregnant tissues. Conversely, women with the blood disorder beta thalassemia, which causes high levels of GDF15 before pregnancy, experience little to no nausea or vomiting.
Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, Co-Director of the Wellcome-Medical Research Council Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge and leader of the study, explained that most pregnant women experience some degree of nausea and sickness. However, for some, the symptoms can be severe, requiring medical treatment or hospitalization. The study’s findings reveal that the sickness is caused by the fetus producing a hormone at levels the mother is not accustomed to. The more sensitive the mother is to the hormone, the more severe her symptoms will be. This understanding provides insights into potential prevention strategies and treatments by blocking GDF15 from interacting with its receptor in the mother’s brain.
The study also included experiments with mice, which showed that those exposed to high levels of GDF15 experienced loss of appetite, indicating nausea. However, when mice were treated with a long-acting form of GDF15 and subsequently exposed to acute levels of the hormone, they did not exhibit similar behavior. The researchers believe that building up a woman’s tolerance to GDF15 before pregnancy could be the key to preventing pregnancy sickness.
Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a co-author of the study from the University of Southern California, shared her personal experience with hyperemesis gravidarum and emphasized the importance of developing effective treatments to alleviate the suffering of pregnant women. The collaborative study involved researchers from the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and Kelaniya University in Sri Lanka.
In conclusion, this groundbreaking study has uncovered the cause of pregnancy sickness and offers a potential treatment solution by manipulating the mother’s exposure to the hormone GDF15. With further research and development, these findings could revolutionize the management of pregnancy sickness and improve the well-being of expectant mothers.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc.
