News | Study: Mediterranean Diet Linked to a 94% Lower Risk of Endometriosis
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that women who followed a Mediterranean dietary pattern had up to 94% lower odds of endometriosis. The findings suggest that a diet centered on plant-based, nutrient-dense foods may help reduce inflammation and support female reproductive health.
Association between diet and endometriosis risk
Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It commonly causes pelvic pain, infertility, and menstrual abnormalities. About 10% of women of reproductive age are affected. Although its development involves complex hormonal, inflammatory, and immune responses, diet has increasingly become a focus of research as a modifiable lifestyle factor.
Dietary patterns may influence inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal balance, and muscle contractions, thereby affecting disease progression. Plant-based diets rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts are thought to potentially lower risk because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Iranian study finds a significant association
The Tehran-based research team used a hospital case-control design and enrolled 313 women aged 18 to 49, including 105 with confirmed endometriosis and 208 healthy controls. Researchers used a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake over the previous year and measured diet quality using the Medi-Lite score and Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI).
Women in the control group had significantly higher Mediterranean diet adherence scores than those with endometriosis (9.21 vs 5.63) and better overall diet quality (HDI 5.54 vs 2.80). Women without endometriosis consumed more fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables, and legumes, while those with the condition consumed more saturated fat, meat, and dairy products.
After adjusting for age, body mass index, energy intake, menstrual history, smoking status, family history, and other factors, the study found:
High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with 94% lower odds of endometriosis (adjusted odds ratio OR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.15);
Fruit and nuts (OR=0.09), vegetables (OR=0.18), fish (OR=0.16), and legumes (OR=0.26) were each associated with significantly lower odds;
Higher intake of meat (OR=10.36) and dairy products (OR=4.58) was associated with significantly greater risk;
Unexpectedly, whole-grain intake was associated with increased risk (OR=2.30), which researchers said may reflect differences in local foods or residual confounding.
Significance and limitations
The research team noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may improve hormone metabolism and could reduce endometriosis risk through these mechanisms.
However, because this was an observational study, it cannot establish causation. The authors advised caution when interpreting unusual findings, such as the association between monounsaturated fatty acids and increased risk, which may stem from local oil consumption patterns or statistical bias.
Other limitations included possible recall bias, no adjustment for socioeconomic factors, and the exclusion of variables such as coffee, soy foods, phytoestrogens, and dietary supplements.
Broader implications and future directions
The findings support considering the Mediterranean diet as part of women's health management. Experts suggest increasing intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and oily fish while reducing the proportion of red meat, dairy products, and saturated fat to support inflammatory balance and hormonal health. Longitudinal and interventional studies are still needed to further examine causality and the mechanisms linking diet with endometriosis.
News | Study: Mediterranean Diet Linked to a 94% Lower Risk of Endometriosis
News | Study: Mediterranean Diet Linked to a 94% Lower Risk of Endometriosis
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that women who followed a Mediterranean dietary pattern had up to 94% lower odds of endometriosis. The findings suggest that a diet centered on plant-based, nutrient-dense foods may help reduce inflammation and support female reproductive health.
Association between diet and endometriosis risk
Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. It commonly causes pelvic pain, infertility, and menstrual abnormalities. About 10% of women of reproductive age are affected. Although its development involves complex hormonal, inflammatory, and immune responses, diet has increasingly become a focus of research as a modifiable lifestyle factor.
Dietary patterns may influence inflammation, oxidative stress, hormonal balance, and muscle contractions, thereby affecting disease progression. Plant-based diets rich in fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts are thought to potentially lower risk because of their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Iranian study finds a significant association
The Tehran-based research team used a hospital case-control design and enrolled 313 women aged 18 to 49, including 105 with confirmed endometriosis and 208 healthy controls. Researchers used a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess dietary intake over the previous year and measured diet quality using the Medi-Lite score and Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI).
Women in the control group had significantly higher Mediterranean diet adherence scores than those with endometriosis (9.21 vs 5.63) and better overall diet quality (HDI 5.54 vs 2.80). Women without endometriosis consumed more fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables, and legumes, while those with the condition consumed more saturated fat, meat, and dairy products.
After adjusting for age, body mass index, energy intake, menstrual history, smoking status, family history, and other factors, the study found:
High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with 94% lower odds of endometriosis (adjusted odds ratio OR=0.06, 95% CI: 0.02–0.15);
Fruit and nuts (OR=0.09), vegetables (OR=0.18), fish (OR=0.16), and legumes (OR=0.26) were each associated with significantly lower odds;
Higher intake of meat (OR=10.36) and dairy products (OR=4.58) was associated with significantly greater risk;
Unexpectedly, whole-grain intake was associated with increased risk (OR=2.30), which researchers said may reflect differences in local foods or residual confounding.
Significance and limitations
The research team noted that the Mediterranean diet is rich in dietary fiber, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may improve hormone metabolism and could reduce endometriosis risk through these mechanisms.
However, because this was an observational study, it cannot establish causation. The authors advised caution when interpreting unusual findings, such as the association between monounsaturated fatty acids and increased risk, which may stem from local oil consumption patterns or statistical bias.
Other limitations included possible recall bias, no adjustment for socioeconomic factors, and the exclusion of variables such as coffee, soy foods, phytoestrogens, and dietary supplements.
Broader implications and future directions
The findings support considering the Mediterranean diet as part of women's health management. Experts suggest increasing intake of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and oily fish while reducing the proportion of red meat, dairy products, and saturated fat to support inflammatory balance and hormonal health. Longitudinal and interventional studies are still needed to further examine causality and the mechanisms linking diet with endometriosis.
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