GDF-15 is the trigger for morning sickness in pregnancy, signaling the mother to conserve energy for fetal development.

“We know now also GDF-15 is the trigger for morning sickness uh in pregnancy. So the reason you know uh women especially um hyper emmesis gravitarum HG which is like terrible women who have this many of them want to terminate their their pregnancy it's so horrible like if if GDF-15 rises like 10,000fold there not many you know hormones that can increase that much during pregnancy the placenta sends out GDF 15 maybe to tell the mother like chill out reallocate your energy you're growing something that is costing a lot of energy um so we know GDF 15 does this.”