Fetuses make a protein that causes morning sickness in pregnancy

people of European descent, so it’s not certain that GDF15 is a major player for all ethnic groups.

Also, gastroenterologist Sumona Saha says that before any treatment can be given, researchers will need plenty of safety data from animal studies (SN: 4/21/22). No one really knows what effect blocking GDF15 may have on fetal development or if raising levels of the protein before pregnancy could affect conception, says Saha, of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.

Currently, doctors try a variety of antinausea medications, neurological drugs and other therapies, sometimes including intravenous fluids and nutrition to treat people with severe nausea and vomiting. Having therapies focused on GDF15 may improve treatment, Saha says.

“We’ve got, potentially, a very targeted therapy versus a lot of other treatments, which are like taking a hammer to a problem. Now, we potentially will have an X-Acto knife that we can use.”