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Studies suggest that taking vitamin B6 for morning sickness greatly improves nausea, though not vomiting, for many pregnant women. There has been no sign of harm to the fetus with vitamin B6 use.footnote 1
A typical dose of vitamin B6 for morning sickness is 10 mg to 25 mg, 3 times a day.footnote 2
Talk to your health professional before you take vitamin B6 for morning sickness.
What Is Morning Sickness And Who’S Affected?
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) notes that morning sickness, defined as nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, will affect almost 75 percent of all pregnant people.
You can blame it on those rising pregnancy hormones. For many, morning sickness seems to stop around weeks 12 to 14, but for others, it continues for much longer. That can mean weeks upon weeks of daily vomiting and nausea.
Why You Need Vitamin B6 During Pregnancy
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is vital to your baby’s developing brain and nervous system. Vitamin B6 also helps your baby metabolize protein and carbohydrates. Some studies suggest that extra vitamin B6 may relieve nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) for some women during pregnancy, though no one is exactly sure why.
How Much Vitamin B6 Do Pregnant Women Need?
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need a bit more vitamin B6 than usual. (Check the labels.). You should be able to get all the vitamin B6 you need during pregnancy from a varied diet and from your prenatal vitamins – most contain at least 100 percent of the recommended amount.
It’s possible to get too much vitamin B6. And some fortified foods, like energy drinks and bars, can have several times the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6. Always check labels to be safe.
Taking excessive amounts of vitamin B6 supplements over time can cause numbness and nerve damage. (Don’t take more than your provider recommends.