Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ginger and Vitamin B6 for Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Early Pregnancy: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Porndee Chittumma MD*, Kasem Kaewkiattikun MD*, Bussaba Wiriyasiriwach MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital
Objective : To compare the effectiveness of ginger and vitamin B6 for treatment of nausea and vomiting in
pregnancy.
Design : Randomized double-blind controlled trial.
Setting : Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College
and Vajira Hospital.
Materials and Methods : One hundred and twenty-six pregnant women, with a gestational age of < 16 weeks
who had nausea and vomiting, required anti-emetics, had no medical complication, and were not hospitalized.
Pregnant women were randomly allocated to receive either 650 mg of ginger or 25 mg of vitamin B6. They
were given three times per day for 4 days. The degree of nausea and vomiting were assessed by three physical
symptoms of Rhode’s score (episodes of nausea, duration of nausea and number of vomits). These were re-
corded 24 hours before treatment for baseline and each subsequent day of treatment. Difference of baseline
and post-treatment nausea vomiting scores were calculated for both groups during 4 days of treatment.
Results : One hundred and twenty-three women returned to follow-up. Ginger and vitamin B6 significantly
reduced nausea and vomiting scores from 8.7 + 2.2 to 5.4 + 2.0 and 8.3 + 2.5 to 5.7 + 2.3 respectively, (p <
0.05). The mean score change after treatment with ginger was greater than with vitamin B6 (3.3 + 1.5 versus
2.6 + 1.3), (p < 0.05). There were some minor side effects in both groups 25.4% and 23.8% (p = 0.795)
respectively, such as sedation, heartburn, arrhythmia.
Conclusion : Both ginger and vitamin B6 were effective for treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Moreover, ginger was more effective than vitamin B6. Side effects from ginger were reported to be minor and
did not need any treatment.
Keywords : Nausea, Vomiting, Pregnancy, Ginger, Vitamin B6
