Nutritional Intervention for Endometriosis

ConditionEndometriosis
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
Age18-45
SponsorPhysicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

About this trial

In a 12-week parallel study, women with a verified diagnosis of endometriosis will be randomly assigned to follow a low-fat plant-based diet or to stay on their usual diets for 12 weeks. Participants in both groups will be asked to make no changes to their exercise patterns for the study period. Changes in pain, quality of life, and inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to final will be the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes will include changes in body weight, blood lipids, gut microbiome composition, and hormonal changes.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Women with a surgical, imaging, or clinical diagnosis of endometriosis

Age 18-45 years

Stable health condition and medications for past 3 months

Modified Biberoglu and Behrman (B&B) pelvic pain score of at least 5/9

Disqualifiers

Body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2

Smoking or drug abuse during the past six months

Alcohol consumption of more than 2 drinks per day or the equivalent, episodic increased drinking (e.g., more than 2 drinks per day on weekends), or a history of alcohol abuse or dependency followed by any current use

Unstable medical or psychiatric illness

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Plant-based Intervention Group

    Behavioral

    Participants in the intervention group will be instructed in ways to adopt a plant-based diet, use appropriate methods of food preparation, and make meals enjoyable and appetizing. The plant-based diet primarily emphasizes whole grains, vegetables, beans and legumes, and fruits. Animal products and added oils will be proscribed and the use of ultra-processed foods, sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages will be discouraged. Fat intake will be limited to 20-30 g/day.

Treatment groups

120 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: Plant-based Intervention GroupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Control GroupNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Modified Biberoglu and Behrman Scale: change from baseline

Endometriosis-specific pain scale will be used. For inclusion in study, participants require a score of at least 5/9.

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks
2

Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30): change from baseline

The EHP-30 questionnaire is the only validated quality of life questionnaire for the use in endometriosis.

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks
3

Inflammatory biomarkers: change from baseline

Blood tests for biomarkers of inflammation (hsCRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6).

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes

1

Body weight: change from baseline

Weight will be measured using a self-calibrating scale (Renpho).

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks
2

Blood lipids: change from baseline

Change in blood lipids assessed via blood tests including lipid panels.

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks
3

Estrogen levels: change from baseline

Estradiol, free estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) will be measured through blood tests.

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks
4

Gut microbiome composition: change from baseline

Participants will collect stool samples for microbiome analysis. Sample collection will be carried out using home collection procedures with samples returned through local post. The participants will apply a small smear to the tips of a swab from used toilet paper. The swab will, in turn, be used to transfer the smear to a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) card that will be returned by mail to a laboratory for analysis.

Time frame
at baseline and at 12 weeks

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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