Science News

Article originally written by Jenny Xu ’27.

Morning sickness is something women of all generations have most likely experienced during pregnancy. Only now have we found an answer to this phenomenon.

Pregnancy is a miraculous journey that brings joy and excitement, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges, with morning sickness being a common and often unpleasant experience for many expectant mothers. Recent research has shed light on a potential link between a protein called GDF15 and the occurrence of morning sickness, opening up new avenues for understanding and managing common pregnancy symptoms.

Morning sickness, characterized by nausea and vomiting, is a prevalent condition that is caused during the early stages of pregnancy. While the exact causes remain unknown, hormonal changes, particularly the rise in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), have been traditionally linked to morning sickness. However, new studies have suggested that GDF15 might play a significant role in modulating the severity of this symptom. GDF15, or Growth Differentiation Factor 15, is a protein that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite, energy balance, and body weight. A surge of a hormone made by fetuses triggers nausea and vomiting coming from morning sickness. Subsequently, women who have naturally low levels of protein in their blood before pregnancy are more likely to suffer from a more severe form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum, a type of vomiting so severe and frequent it can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and even hospitalization and death of the fetus or mother, when hit with the rush of protein, researchers reported on December 13 in Nature.

The findings could help identify people at risk of severe illness and lead to treatments. Initially identified for its association with cancer and metabolic disorders, GDF15 has become a focal point of interest in pregnancy-related research. Up to 80 percent of pregnant people get nauseous in the early stages of pregnancy, and about half vomit- a combo of symptoms often called morning sickness. Three percent of pregnant people will develop hyperemesis gravidarum.

Knowing GDF15’s role in morning sickness can help the development of targeted therapies that will ease the symptoms and improve the quality of life of women in the process of pregnancy. Scientists are considering the possibility of fine-tuning the GDF15 levels, resulting in an improved pregnancy experience for women who are sensitive to an excessive amount of hormones. While GDF15 is potentially the main cause of morning sickness, it should be known that pregnancy-related symptoms are multifactorial and involve a complex number of hormones. It is likely that GDF15 is a protein that sends a message to other hormones like estrogen and progesterone in order to regulate the process of morning sickness. However, more research is needed to understand the intricate links between these factors.

Discovering that GDF15 is the cause of morning sickness adds a new dimension to our understanding of pregnancy-related symptoms, and along with the ongoing research and discovering the successive factors, information gathered can be used to design new programs fighting morning sickness and make pregnancy more tolerable and pleasant. The recognition of GDF15 enables us to walk closer to the goal of complete maternal care. So next time you come in contact with a pregnant woman, assure them that their morning sickness is not completely their fault, but in fact mostly their fetuses’!

Sources:

Study finds cause and potential prevention for pregnancy sickness: UK Research and Innovation
https://www.ukri.org/news/study-finds-cause-and-potential-prevention-for-pregnancy-sickness/#:~:text=GDF15%20is%20made%20at%20low,nausea%20and%20 vomiting%20in%20 pregnancy

GDF15 linked to maternal risk of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: Nature
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06921-9

Fetuses make a protein that causes morning sickness in pregnancy: Science News
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/morning-sickness-pregnancy-nausea-vomiting-fetus-protein#:~:text=The%20new%20 findings%2C%20 Trovik%20 days,Cambridge%20University%20 and%20 colleagues%20report.