A new study published in JAMA Network Open sheds light on how dietary choices may influence pain in individuals living with endometriosis—a chronic and often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it. Titled “Dietary Modification and Supplement Use for Endometriosis Pain,” the research by Hearn-Yeates et al. (2025) from the University of Edinburgh (UK) and the University College Cork (Ireland), represents the largest international survey of its kind, with over 2,300 participants who had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis.
The results show that many people are turning to diet and supplements to help manage their symptoms. Nearly all respondents reported chronic pelvic pain (97%) and frequent abdominal bloating (91%). Of these, 84% had tried changing their diet, and 59% had used supplements in hopes of easing their discomfort.
Importantly, the study found a clear link between these lifestyle changes and reported pain relief. Participants who said dietary changes improved their pain had significantly lower average pain scores than those who didn’t notice a benefit. The same pattern held for supplement users.
The headline finding? Major endometriosis study reveals impact of gluten, coffee, dairy, and alcohol. Among the most common and effective dietary changes were reducing or eliminating alcohol (reported helpful by 53% of those who tried it), gluten (45%), dairy (45%), and caffeine (43%). While some respondents tried structured diets like low-FODMAP, these were less frequently used.
In terms of supplements, magnesium, vitamin D, and probiotics were the most popular, though only about a third of users found them effective. The most common sources of information guiding these changes were social media and healthcare professionals.
Despite its strengths, the study had some limitations. It didn’t collect data on how long the dietary changes were followed, emphasizing the need for further clinical studies to understand which approaches are most effective for whom. Still, the findings offer valuable insight into non-medical ways people are managing endometriosis.
References:
- Hearn-Yeates F, Edgley K, Horne AW, O’Mahony SM, Saunders PTK. Dietary Modification and Supplement Use For Endometriosis Pain. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e253152. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.3152
Serra Húnter Fellow of Sociology at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
Former DAAD-Gastprofessorin at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg