Researchers found supplementing with Probiotics significantly improves pregnancy related nausea symptoms like vomiting and constipation according to a new study just published in the journal Nutrients.
32 pregnant women participated in this study which lasted for 16 days. Participants supplemented with a Probiotic capsule twice a day for six days and then took 2 days off from supplementing with the Probiotic. After the 2 day break, participants repeated this cycle. The Probiotic supplement contained approximately 10 billion live organisms at the time they were manufactured and contained mainly Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Participants were required to keep 17 daily observations of any symptoms they may have been experiencing.
The study results showed taking the Probiotic significantly reduced vomiting and nausea in the participants. There was actually a 16% reduction in hours where the participants experienced nausea. The number of times participants spent vomiting was reduced by 33%. Additionally Probiotic supplementation significantly improved symptoms related to quality of life, like poor appetite, fatigue and ability to continue maintaining normal social activities according to questionnaires complete by the participants. Significant improvements in constipation were also seen.
Participants were also required to provide fecal samples before and during the study. These samples were then analyzed to identify the number and types of microbes as well as the different byproducts of digestion. One finding was a low amount of bacteria containing the enzyme bile salt hydrolase was associated with more vomiting. This enzyme generates bile acid to absorb nutrients. Probiotics were shown to increase this bile salt hydrolase producing bacteria which may be why Probiotics were associated with reductions in nausea and vomiting. Researchers also found other gut microbes associated with more vomiting were reduced by Probiotic supplementation. Lastly Vitamin E levels increased after participants supplemented with the Probiotic supplements. Higher Vitamin E levels were associated with lower vomiting scores.
85% of pregnancies are affected by nausea and vomiting and significantly impact the quality of life especially during the early months of pregnancy.
Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed.
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