Nutrients in the comprehensive treatment of endometriosis

Endometriosis is traditionally treated with medications and surgical interventions to suppress inflammation and excess estrogen production. Given the current knowledge of the involvement of immune and pro-inflammatory factors in the development of pathophysiological process, researchers and practitioners continue to actively search for alternative approaches to treating endometriosis, including the use of certain vitamins, nutritional supplements, and a balanced diet, which may help to significantly improve treatment efficacy and prevent recurrence. This article presents a review of studies on the efficacy of various nonpharmacological therapies and a balanced diet based on their ability to exert anti-inflammatory effects (polyphenols, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids), or to induce antioxidant effects (vitamins C and E), or to maintain and regulate the immune response (vitamin D) in the comprehensive treatment of endometriosis. Key words: vitamin D, vitamin C, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, endometriosis