Placenta Components

The placenta is rich in the following:

• Minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphate)
• Trace Elements (copper, zinc, iron, and selenium)
• Hormones
  • Oxytocin
  • Prostaglandin
  • Prolactin and Human Placental Lactagon (hPL)
  • Progesterone
  • Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Serotonin
  • Thyroid-Releasing Hormone (TRH)
  • Thyroxine
• Vitamins
  • Vitamins A, C, D
  • B6 and other B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, folate, and cobalamin
• Stem Cells
• Opioids/Placenta Opioid-Enhancing Factor (POEF)
• Fatty acids/amino acids/indoleamines
• Glucose stores

More information (with the accompanying research) on some of these components below:

Minerals / Trace Elements

Calcium, Magnesium, potassium, sodium, and phosphate¹ are all found in the placenta along with trace elements including copper, zinc, iron, and selenium^{2, 3}. All of the minerals and trace elements are important in the postpartum time period, especially iron and selenium. Selenium is a mineral with antioxidant properties that protects cells from damage ⁴ and may be partly why placenta ingestion is so effective in aiding uterine recovery.⁵ Iron studies show a strong correlation between maternal iron levels and the mother’s experience of depression, stress, and cognitive functions postpartum.^{6, 7}. Did you know a term (40 week) placenta has the iron equivalent of nearly two blood transfusions?⁸ Consuming the placenta helps alleviate fatigue and may counter postpartum depression by restoring hemoglobin in blood levels quickly.⁹

Hormones

The placenta secretes and synthesizes many hormones during pregnancy; a few main ones are oxytocin, prostaglandin, progesterone, estrogens, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), human placental lactogen, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), placental growth hormone, and corticotropin-releasing hormone.^{10, 11, 12}

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a hormone that helps alleviate maternal hemorrhage at birth and shortly after by facilitating contractions and helping the body safely detach and birth the placenta¹³. Oxytocin also aids in lactation, bonding between mom and baby, and reduction of anxiety.^{14, 15} Women can easily restore their oxytocin (and other hormone) reserves that may be left depleted after birth with the high amount found in the placenta.

Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins can reduce bleeding from the placental attachment site, affect the aggregation (clumping together) and disaggregation of platelets in blood, regulate inflammation, and assist cell growth and regeneration.¹⁶ The prostaglandin benefits can equal a notable acceleration in healing from birth injury and bodily strain postpartum. 

Estrogen

The properties of estrogen stimulates faster healing and can assist in the transportation of white blood cells to ward off infections postpartum.¹⁷ The anti-inflammatory properties are widely known and can affect any areas of mental function and the central nervous system.¹⁸ Women with hypertension (high blood pressure), edema (swelling) or high levels or urinary protein usually find that placenta consumption/encapsulation can sooth kidneys and bring faster resolution for these symptoms. Estrogen influences blood flow to the uterus, prepares the body for lactation and production of breast milk, and is also a main hormone linked to women’s mental health and stability.^{19, 20} The fast (almost immediate) mental clarity and increased daily outlook that mothers report with placenta encapsulation may be due to this huge boost of estrogen in the placenta. 

Progesterone

Progesterone is another hormone that aids in improving mental clarity and cognitive function postpartum. ²¹ Recent studies have found that progesterone has an MAO-inhibiting mechanism (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) that leads to a similar bodily effect to many anti-anxiety medications.²² Placenta encapsulation offers a daily leveled amount of this hormone, which is essential for maternal mental wellbeing as a too significate decrease in progesterone can affect a women’s mental health negatively.

Prolactin

Prolactin is secreted by the placenta and is one the main hormone that increases milk production²³, which is vital for women with strong breastfeeding goals. The placenta contains orally-active prolactin, so consuming the placenta (via which ever method) contains prolactin AND IT ALSO boosts the production of prolactin from other secretion sites (pituitary and ovarian).²⁴ Numerous studies confirm the statistical increase in breastmilk production due to consuming the placenta.²⁵ In one study, 86% of postpartum moms who were given dehydrated placenta saw an increase in milk secretion.²⁶ (read that part again, because that is huge!) Placenta consumption is also associated with postpartum weight loss consistently with lactation. One study done at The University of Michigan reported, “It is evident that the recovery from the postnatal decline in weight is hastened by the consumption of milk produced under the influence of maternally ingested placenta”.²⁷ 

Endorphins

Endorphins are known as natural pain relievers of the body and the counter stress, they biochemically cause the mind to orient to a more positive and up-beat perspective… and the placenta is full of them!²⁸ Benefits of endorphins in the placenta tissue are compounded by opioids.

Opioids

Opioids are a psychoactive chemical that has been found to have a more powerful pharmacological effect than morphine.^{29, 30} One of the evidence based benefits of placenta consumption is decreased maternal pain, which helps mothers rest more comfortably and allows mother more focus on bonding and breastfeeding with her new baby.^{31, 32} Mark Kristal, a placenta ingestion expert, explains, “The active substance in placenta… named POEF for Placental Opioid-Enhancing Factor… produces a powerful ongoing opioid-mediated analgesia.”³³ A 2004 study even found that placental compounds block pain reception in the brain increasing mental clarity and the mother’s ability to think clearly and critically.³⁴ Mothers often need less pain medication during postpartum recovery if using placenta encapsulation.

Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)

CRH is used in birth to help the mother handle very high amount of stress both mentally and physically. But after birth the levels of CRH plummet leaving mothers with a lesser ability to perform well under stress and making them more vulnerable to postpartum syndromes (such as PPD, PPA, etc.). The National Institute of Health (NIH) has had studies that have found placenta consumption both stimulates and stabilizes CRH levels. Endocrinologist George Chrousos, who led the NIH study, concluded that since the placenta contains large amounts of orally-active CRH, ingesting the placenta will stabilize CRH levels resulting in “a more stable emotional life for the mother.”³⁵

Serotonin

Balanced levels of serotonin for women in the postpartum timeframe is critical as she balances her sleep with the sleep schedule of a newborn. The placenta is rich in serotonin, which regulates sleep patterns, helps mothers return to a deep sleep after being awaken by baby/feedings. Serotonin levels also aid other factors such as balancing weight, mood, and clearer cognitive functioning.³⁶ In a study by Dr. Alexandre Bonnin’s he found “The placenta was seen as a passive organ, but we now know that it has significant synthetic capabilities.”³⁷

Vitamin B6

The placenta is rich in Vitamin B6 which is important as serotonin production is dependent on a women’s levels of vitamin B6 as well. Vitamin B6 is needed for 100+ different enzyme reactions in the body; the abundance of B6 helps prevent depression, improves mental clarity, strengthens her immune system, and supports postpartum wound healing.³⁸

Other Vitamins

Vitamin B6 is just one of the many water-soluble vitamins found in the placenta, according to the study “Transplacental Transport of Water-Soluble Vitamins: A Review,” the placenta is high in both A and B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, biotin, folate, and cobalamin), as well as vitamin C and vitamin D, which are all very useful in replenishing depleted body stores from pregnancy and birth.^{39, 40, 41}

More…

The placenta is also high in fatty acids, amino acids, and even glucose stores,^{42, 43} all which may help the woman’s body recover more easily during her postpartum time. 

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