A pilot study suggests women who experience recurrent miscarriage may have a metabolic issue affecting their ability to sustain a pregnancy. Researchers found distinct differences in how these women process vitamin B3, a nutrient vital for embryonic development. The study compared 88 women, including 37 with a history of multiple pregnancy losses.
The investigation focused on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a metabolite from vitamin B3. Blood tests revealed distinct changes in NAD-related metabolites in women who had suffered repeated miscarriages. Lead researcher Harmut Cuny stated, “Every miscarriage is heartbreaking. Our goal is to understand the biology behind them, so that in time, fewer families have to go through such loss.”
Notably, these metabolic differences persisted regardless of vitamin B3 supplementation, hinting at a deeper imbalance. The researchers are now starting a three-year project to identify NAD-related biomarkers for miscarriage risk and explore potential interventions, aiming to enable preventative strategies for at-risk women.