Diet and supplementation as an element supporting the treatment of endometriosis — literature review

Endometriosis is a chronic estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease affecting about 10% of women of reproductive age. Pharmacotherapy and surgery form the basis of treatment, but emerging evidence points towards the potential role of diet as an adjunct. The paper presents the pathophysiological basis of nutritional intervention in endometriosis, including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and disturbances in estrogen metabolism related to the functioning of the intestinal microbiota and the estrobolome. The nutritional model based on an anti-inflammatory diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, cruciferous vegetables and fiber, as opposed to routine elimination of food, as well as the need to individualize the recommendations depending on the patient's clinical phenotype, was discussed. Evidence on supplementation with selected compounds with potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and the role of probiotics and prebiotics in supporting intestinal and vaginal microbiota were also presented. The paper emphasizes that diet therapy should be treated as a supportive intervention, not as a causal treatment of endometriosis.