Oral Nutritional Supplements Effective in Managing Endometriosis Pain, New Review Finds

"These nutritional supplements demonstrated a range of beneficial biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic effects, all pertinent to managing endometriosis," the researchers reported in the Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction.

"Consequently, incorporating these supplements into a comprehensive treatment plan could potentially reduce pain and improve overall medical care for individuals with endometriosis."

Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, causing tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside it, leading to severe pain, infertility, and other complications. Traditional treatments typically include hormone therapy and surgical interventions; however, these options are not always effective or suitable for all patients. This has spurred interest in complementary approaches to improve symptom management.

To facilitate clinical decision-making in managing patients with endometriosis, Tamiris Julio, Institute of Health Sciences, Paulista University, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, and colleagues conducted a narrative review of clinical studies to investigate the effects of oral nutritional supplements on endometriosis-related pain.

"Our goal is to offer valuable insights to guide clinical decision-making in endometriosis management, paving the way for potential non-pharmacological interventions to enhance patient outcomes," they wrote.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search of the English-language PubMed/MEDLINE database using relevant keywords to identify clinical studies on oral nutritional supplements and their impact on endometriosis-related pain. The narrative review encompasses 20 studies published between 2013 and 2023, including 12 randomized controlled trials, six non-comparative trials, and two observational studies.

The selected research explored the effects of various nutritional supplements on endometriosis pain, investigating a range of supplements such as vitamins, fatty acids, probiotics, medicinal plants, and bioactive compounds.

The researchers observed a notable reduction in endometriosis-related pain in three out of five studies examining vitamins, four out of six studies on fatty acids, one study involving probiotics, two studies on medicinal plants, and five out of six studies on bioactive compounds.

"Several oral nutritional supplements demonstrate anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic properties. The positive outcomes observed thus far support their potential use as therapeutic strategies for managing endometriosis-related symptoms, including pain, alone or in combination with other treatments," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Julio, T., Fenerich, B. A., Halpern, G., Carrera-Bastos, P., Schor, E., & Kopelman, A. (2024). The effects of oral nutritional supplements on endometriosis-related pain: A narrative review of clinical studies. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, 53(10), 102830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2024.102830