Vitamin B6 deficiency is linked to morning sickness.
In her book, “Let’s Have Healthy Children,” Adelle Davis talks about the importance of Vitamin B6 and sufficient intake can help prevent morning sickness. “Vitamin B6 is a friend indeed. The need for [it], or pyridoxine, increases immediately after conception; and most of the illnesses occurring during pregnancy can be prevented or corrected by this vitamin.
*
...the symptoms produced in volunteers lacking [it] are the very ones most pregnancy women experience sometime during pregnancy: nausea, vomiting…” and many other symptoms.
*
Davis states that most women are deficient in B6 during pregnancy. “When [B6] is undersupplied, an amino acid from protein cannot be utilized normally; instead it is converted into a substance known as xanthurenic acid, which is excreted in the urine. The more of this acid excreted, the more severe the [B6] deficiency. Urine tests have shown that 95% of all pregnant women are deficient in this vitamin.”
*
Recent studies also confirm this — even when supplemented. “Despite the vitamin supplementation, a high percent of vitamin A, B6, niacin, thiamin and B12 hypovitaminemia was noted during pregnancy trimesters.” (Baker et al.)
*
Of course, this isn't the only potential cause of morning sickness. And prevention is much easier than fixing the issue later on (although this is not always preventable) — that's why I’m so focused on preconception prep. If you’re someone dealing with morning sickness now, hopefully this gives you a new avenue to explore with your healthcare provider(s).
*
Synthetic B6 supplements aren’t my favorite (can be formed with petroleum ester and formaldehyde (Thiel)) and can create other macro and micronutrient imbalances. I prefer food first whenever possible.
*
Some of my favorite B6-rich foods?
*
❤️Liver
🐟Fish
🍗Chicken
🍌Banana
___
Absolutely not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider.
_____________________________________________________________
Ready to harness your innate superpower?
Creating cycle awareness is about way more than just knowing when you're fertile. Whatever your goals are — whether it's pain-free periods or TTC — being engaged with your cycle can help you better achieve them. Download this free guide to learn how you can unleash your innate feminine ability!
_____________________________________________________________
This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
_____________________________________________________________
References
Baker, H. DeAngelis, B. Holland, B. Gittens-Williams, L. Barrett, T. (2001). Vitamin Profile of 563 Gravidas during Trimesters of Pregnancy. Retrieved from: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07315724.2002.10719191?scroll=top&needAccess=true&journalCode=uacn20.
Brighten, J. (2019). Beyond the Pill. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
Fallon, S. Cowan, T.S. (2013, 2015). The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care. Washington, D.C.: NewTrends Publishing.
Haas, E. M. Levin, B. (2006). Staying Healthy with Nutrition. New York, NY: Ten Speed Press.
National Institutes of Health. (2020). Vitamin B6. Retrieved from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/#:~:text=The%20richest%20sources%20of%20vitamin,1%2C3%2C5%5D.
Neibyl, J.R. Goodwin, T.M. (2006). Overview of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy with an emphasis on vitamins and ginger. Retrieved from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000293780280028X.
Thiel, R. (2009). The Truth About Vitamins in Supplements. Retrieved from: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Truth-About-Vitamins-in-Supplements/1ae0608396d55120efcb6923c3d1dfa970f64bbb.
TTC? Get empowered with Conscious Conception, the ultimate fertility blueprint created to help you optimize your fertility and enter pregnancy empowered.
Stay in touch.
Sign up for my newsletter to get access to exclusive content and resources all about fertility and beyond.
We will never misuse your information.
