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. 2023 Sep 22:10:1273976.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1273976. eCollection 2023.

The impact of endometriosis on dietary choices and activities of everyday life: a cross-sectional study

Elisa Mazza  1   2   3 , Ersilia Troiano  2   4 , Santino Mazza  3 , Yvelise Ferro  1   3 , Antonia Abbinante  5   6 , Maria Teresa Agneta  5   6 , Tiziana Montalcini  3   7   8 , Arturo Pujia  1   3   7
Affiliations

The impact of endometriosis on dietary choices and activities of everyday life: a cross-sectional study

Elisa Mazza et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is characterized by ectopic endometrial tissue and severe pain; frequently, women afflicted by this condition resort to non-medical interventions, such as dietary modifications. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of endometriosis on dietary patterns and quality of life.

Methods: An online survey was conducted among Italian women with endometriosis to gather self-reported demographic, clinical, dietary habit, and daily life data post-diagnosis.

Results: A total of 4,078 participants were included. Following an endometriosis diagnosis, 66% reported changes in eating habits, and 92% experienced a decline in daily life. Respondents chose dietary interventions: gluten-free (15%), anti-inflammatory (8%), Mediterranean (7.1%), or ketogenic (4%) diets, to improve health and reduce symptoms. The study revealed a shift in eating habits, with increased consumption of vegetables, fruits (10%), cereals, legumes (6.6%), and fish (4.5%), while reducing dairy products (18.4%), soy-containing foods (6.7%), and high saturated fats (8%). Eating habit changes correlated with endometriosis stages and worsened daily life. Educational level, endometriosis stages, years of symptoms, and eating habit changes linked to changes in daily life.

Conclusion: Our findings emphasize the importance of monitoring eating behaviors to prevent unhealthy habits and malnutrition in women with endometriosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate how different diets impact symptoms and enhance daily life for these individuals.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory foods; dietary changes; eating habit; endometriosis; everyday life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in eating habits after diagnosis of endometriosis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dietary patterns followed by women with endometriosis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Food choices of women with endometriosis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Impact of Endometriosis on everyday Life.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Worsening of everyday Life according to stages of disease.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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