Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
7 affiliations
- 1Bauru School of Medicine (FMBRU-USP), University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil.
- 2Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (PUC-MG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
- 3University of Itaúna (UIT), Itaúna, Brazil.
- 4Afya School of Medical Sciences of Palmas, Palmas, Brazil.
- 5Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE), São Paulo, Brazil.
- 6Minas Gerais Medical Sciences Faculty (FCMMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
- 7Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
Introduction
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Dietary strategies such as low-FODMAP diet have been proposed as adjunctive non-pharmacological approaches to symptom management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the association of a low-FODMAP diet on quality-of-life outcomes in women with endometriosis.Methods
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for randomised and observational studies assessing low-FODMAP dietary interventions in women with endometriosis. Outcomes were evaluated using the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30). Pooled analysis was performed using a random-effects model.Results
We included three studies comprising 90 women with a mean age of 34 years. The mean follow-up duration was 3.5 months. The pooled post-intervention mean score was 28.45 for pain (95% CI: 20.88 to 36.02; I² = 61.8%) and 39.33 for control/helplessness (95% CI: 24.92 to 53.73; I² = 81.7%). The corresponding post-intervention mean scores were 31.87 for emotional well-being (95% CI: 27.15 to 36.59; I² = 0%), 38.94 for social support (95% CI: 33.69 to 44.20; I² = 0%), and 43.22 for self-image (95% CI: 35.94 to 50.49; I² = 21.2%).Conclusion
A low-FODMAP diet was associated with improvements across multiple quality-of-life domains in women with endometriosis. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution and considered hypothesis-generating, requiring confirmation by larger, well-designed randomised controlled trials.
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BibTeX
@article{rabelo2026effects,
title = {{Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.}},
author = {Amanda Alves Rabelo and Júlia Fraga Castro E Oliveira and Janete Rabelo Rios and Yasmim de Souza Nunes and Gabriel Bernardes Yacoub and Carolina Alves Corrêa and Guilherme Santos da Silva and Alessandra Bedin-Pochini},
journal = {Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/jhn.70353},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876029},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
AU - Amanda Alves Rabelo
AU - Júlia Fraga Castro E Oliveira
AU - Janete Rabelo Rios
AU - Yasmim de Souza Nunes
AU - Gabriel Bernardes Yacoub
AU - Carolina Alves Corrêa
AU - Guilherme Santos da Silva
AU - Alessandra Bedin-Pochini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association
DO - 10.1111/jhn.70353
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42876029
AB - Introduction Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynaecological disease that significantly impairs quality of life. Dietary strategies such as low-FODMAP diet have been proposed as adjunctive non-pharmacological approaches to symptom management. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the association of a low-FODMAP diet on quality-of-life outcomes in women with endometriosis.Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for randomised and observational studies assessing low-FODMAP dietary interventions in women with endometriosis. Outcomes were evaluated using the Endometriosis Health Profile-30 (EHP-30). Pooled analysis was performed using a random-effects model.Results We included three studies comprising 90 women with a mean age of 34 years. The mean follow-up duration was 3.5 months. The pooled post-intervention mean score was 28.45 for pain (95% CI: 20.88 to 36.02; I² = 61.8%) and 39.33 for control/helplessness (95% CI: 24.92 to 53.73; I² = 81.7%). The corresponding post-intervention mean scores were 31.87 for emotional well-being (95% CI: 27.15 to 36.59; I² = 0%), 38.94 for social support (95% CI: 33.69 to 44.20; I² = 0%), and 43.22 for self-image (95% CI: 35.94 to 50.49; I² = 21.2%).Conclusion A low-FODMAP diet was associated with improvements across multiple quality-of-life domains in women with endometriosis. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution and considered hypothesis-generating, requiring confirmation by larger, well-designed randomised controlled trials.
SN - 0952-3871
SN - 1365-277X
ER -