Comparison of quince with vitamin B6 for treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a randomised clinical trial

Abstract

This trial was performed to compare quince (Cydonia oblonga) fruit with vitamin B6 on 76 pregnant women with a gestational age of 6–14 weeks and mild-to-moderate nausea and vomiting (NVP) (40 in the quince and 36 in the B6 group). The ‘Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis’ (PUQE-24) scale was used to examine the severity of NVP. The quince syrup (1 tablespoon/TDS) or vitamin B6 tablets (20 mg/TDS) were used as intervention for 1 week. The mean (±SD) age was 27.5 (±5.2) years. The score of the PUQE was decreased from 9.5 (± 2) at baseline to 5.2 (±2.3) on the 7th day and 5.3 (±2.6) on the 14th day (p < .001) in the quince group. In the other group, the scores were 8.4 (±1.8), 7.3 (±2.4) and 7.7 (±3.8), respectively (p = .001). The change in symptoms were more marked in the quince group (p < .001). Quince syrup seems to be a suitable treatment for NVP.

Impact statement

• What is already known on this subject: Pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting (NVP) is one of the most common problems during gestation. Treatment is mainly symptomatic, ranging from dietary changes and oral pharmacological treatment to hospitalization in severe forms. In early pregnancy, the use of chemical drugs is avoided, so there is an increasing tendency to use alternative therapies. According to the literature review in Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM), the quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga) can be useful in NVP. Quince has a wide range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antidepressant effects. ITM literature suggests some therapeutic effects of the quince fruit on important organs like brain, heart, liver and stomach.

• What the results of this study add: The results of this study demonstrated the significant efficacy of quince in comparison with vitamin B6.

• What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research: This fruit is also safe to be administered in pregnant women suffering from NVP.

Keywords:

• Iranian Traditional Medicine
• nausea
• vomiting
• pregnancy
• quince

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. None of the funding bodies had any influence in the design, implementation, analysis or interpretation of the data in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.