Endometriosis and the effects of dietary interventions: what are we looking for?

Endometriosis is the most prevalent benign gynaecologic disease with invalidating effects on the quality of life and decreased economic productivity. As pharmacologic and surgical treatment are only partially effective, women look for self-management strategies in order to control their symptoms. Many dietary interventions have been claimed successful. But it is unclear whether these effects are caused by the idea of taking control of the symptoms by adhering to a diet or by the dietary intervention itself. In order to gain more evidence with regard to the mechanisms behind the effect of dietary intervention in the management of endometriosis, a number of issues need to be addressed for future studies. First, we need clearly defined endpoints in our studies. Secondly, we have to be aware of the difference between the effects of diet on the risk of developing endometriosis and the effects of diet on symptoms in women with already established endometriosis. Thirdly, it may be difficult to strictly define the intervention diet and the control or placebo diet. Fourthly, we have to define endometriosis-related as well as patient-related factors that may influence the success of a dietary intervention. Fifthly, we have to understand the biological mechanisms behind the perceived effects of dietary interventions. These issues will be addressed in this opinion paper.

Lay summary: Endometriosis, defined as the presence of endometrium-like tissue located outside the womb, is a gynaecologic disease that affects many women. They experience severe pain, making it difficult for them to go to school or work. Medication or surgery is often not enough to relieve their pain. Therefore, these women look for ways to suppress their pain by changing their way of life. Changing their diet is an option that is often chosen by women with endometriosis. Many women experience that changing their diet helps to suppress pain symptoms. But it is not clear why changing the diet is effective. Processes in the body could be changed by taking or avoiding specific nutrients, but the effect could also be caused by the empowerment that women experience by adhering to a diet. If we want to learn more about the effect of diet on endometriosis, we have to pay attention to the following issues: first, it is important to exactly define the goal of a new study. Secondly, we have to realize that there is a difference between the study of the effect of diet on the risk of developing endometriosis and the effect of diet on endometriosis that has already developed. Thirdly, we have to realize that it can be difficult to define what the diet contains and how a control group should be defined. Fourthly, it is important to define factors that make it difficult to adhere to a diet. Fifthly, we need to try to understand what happens in the body that may cause the effect of a diet in endometriosis. In this opinion paper, these issues will be addressed.