An Overview of Vitamin B6 and Pregnancy
Pregnant women have a slightly increased need for vitamin B
6 (
pyridoxine), compared to other individuals. Mild vitamin B
6 deficiencies appear to be common among pregnant women and do not seem to cause any significant problems. Vitamin B
6 may be a beneficial morning sickness treatment for some women.
Am I Getting Enough Vitamin B6 During Pregnancy?
The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) of vitamin B
6 for pregnant women is 1.9 mg per day, compared to 1.3 mg per day for most other women of childbearing age. Many women easily get plenty of vitamin B
6 through a healthy and well-rounded diet. However, it is probably a good idea to take a
prenatal vitamin during pregnancy, which will make sure you get enough vitamin B
6 (as well as several other vitamins).
Animal research suggests that a severe vitamin B6 deficiency might cause birth defects or other problems, although it is not clear if the same is true for humans. Mild to moderate deficiencies do not appear to cause serious problems (for either the mother or the fetus).
Vitamin B6 for Morning Sickness
Vitamin B
6 is often recommended for treating morning sickness. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends it as one of the first treatments to try for this problem. However, it is probably not a good idea to use vitamin B
6 (especially in high doses) to treat morning sickness without your healthcare provider's approval and supervision. There is some concern that taking very high doses of vitamin B
6 throughout pregnancy could lead to
seizures in the newborn.
