Dietary Fiber in Endometriosis: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Potential Clinical Benefits—Up-to-Date Review
<b>Background:</b> Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disorder. It is associated with hormonal dysregulation, pelvic pain, and a reduced quality of life. Dietary factors may influence disease development and symptom severity. <b>Objective:</b> This article aims to summarize current evidence on the role of dietary fiber in endometriosis and to discuss the underlying biological mechanisms and clinical implications. <b>Methods:</b> A narrative review of the literature was conducted using peer-reviewed original research articles and review papers published in English. Studies examining dietary fiber intake, fiber-rich dietary patterns, and their associations with endometriosis risk, symptoms, estrogen metabolism, gut microbiota, and inflammation. <b>Results:</b> Observational studies suggest that higher dietary fiber intake, particularly from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, may be associated with a reduced risk of endometriosis. Interventional evidence remains limited. However, available studies indicate that fiber-rich dietary patterns may contribute to pain reduction and improvements in quality of life. <b>Conclusions:</b> Current evidence suggests that dietary fiber may play a supportive role in the prevention and management of endometriosis through multiple interconnected biological pathways. Nevertheless, the limited number of high-quality interventional studies highlights the need for further well-designed clinical trials to clarify the therapeutic potential of fiber-rich diets as an adjunct to standard endometriosis care.
Authors
- Justyna Czerniak
- Michał Ciebiera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5780-5983)
- Natalia Żeber‐Lubecka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4036-3191)
- Piotr Olcha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0552-2855)
Institutions
- Medical University of Lublin (PL)
- Warsaw University of Life Sciences (PL)
- National Institute of Oncology (HU)
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (PL)
- The Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Published
- 2026-02-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040690
- Primary Topic
- Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00