Atherosclerosis and endometriosis: the role of diet, inflammation and oxidative stress in a gender-specific disorder

In the last few years, a possible development of accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with endometriosis, a gender specific-disorder, associated with systemic chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and proatherogenic lipid profile, has been hypothesized. Lifestyle improvement, by adopting Mediterranean dietary pattern, an evidence-based nutritional model for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, might represent a future non-pharmacological therapeutic intervention for controlling cardiovascular risk also in women with endometriosis. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to explore cardio-metabolic, endothelial, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers correlated with atherosclerotic process, and evaluate the effects of Mediterranean Diet intervention in modulating these markers. Secondary objectives of the study were to evaluate the ability of the nutrition intervention in controlling chronic pelvic pain evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and to help identifying a “tailored dietary pattern” for women with endometriosis.