Diet and Endometriosis: An Umbrella Review

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Nutritional Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The relationship between diet and endometriosis remains debated.
• Endometriosis affects a significant portion of reproductive-aged women.
• Understanding dietary influences is crucial for managing endometriosis risk and symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an umbrella review of existing systematic reviews on dietetic strategies for endometriosis.
• To synthesize evidence on the association between specific foods and endometriosis risk or symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Systematic reviews on diet and endometriosis were analyzed.
• Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology was employed for evidence synthesis.
• An umbrella review was performed using Jamovi software.

Main Results:

• A protective association was observed for vegetables, cheese, total dairy, and high-fat dairy intake.
• Increased risk of endometriosis was linked to higher consumption of butter and high caffeine intake (>300 mg/day).
• Evidence quality was generally low, with significant heterogeneity among studies.

Conclusions:

• Higher vegetable and dairy intake may reduce endometriosis risk and symptoms.
• Increased intake of butter and caffeine may elevate endometriosis risk.
• High-quality research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is essential to confirm these findings.