Researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine studied 32 pregnant participants for 16 days, they were prescribed probiotic capsule X 2 times a day for 6 days then the cycle was repeated.
Observations: 17 observations of their symptoms per day were recorded (a total of 535 observations)
Results:
Nausea hours were reduced by 16%
The number of times they vomited was reduced by 33%
Significantly improved symptoms related to the quality of life (fatigue. poor appetite & constipation)
Fecal specimens of the participants were analyzed before and during the study to identify the type and number of microbes and the different by-products of digestion.
Results:
Decreased amount of bacteria with bile salt hydrolase which generates bile acid to absorb nutrients was associated with pregnancy-induced vomiting.
The increased amount of gut microbes Akkermansia and A.muciniphila were associated with more vomiting.
Probiotics increased the amount of the bile salt hydrolase-producing bacteria & reduced the amount of Akkermansia and A.muciniphila (might be reliable biomarkers that can predict vomiting in pregnancy)
Probiotics also increased vitamin E which was associated with low vomiting scores.
Insight into the new mechanism of Pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting
Pregnancy –> hormonal changes –> change the gut microbiome –> affects the GIT & neurological functions –> nausea, vomiting, and constipation.
Do you want to read more about this topic?
Albert T. Liu, Shuai Chen, Prasant Kumar Jena, Lili Sheng, Ying Hu, Yu-Jui Yvonne Wan. Probiotics Improve Gastrointestinal Function and Life Quality in Pregnancy. Nutrients, 2021; 13 (11): 3931 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113931
