The possible role of zinc in the etiopathogenesis of endometriosis

E M Messalli, Messalli EM, M T Schettino, Maria Teresa Schettino, G Mainini, Mainini G, Ercolano S, S. Ercolano, G Fuschillo, Fuschillo G, Giacomo Fuschillo, Francesca Falcone, F Falcone, E. Esposito, Esposito E, Mariano Catello Di Donna, Di Donna MC, M C Di Donna, De Franciscis P, Pasquale De Franciscis, P De Franciscis, Torella M, M. Torella, Marco Torella
Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology · 2014 · vol. 41(5) , pp. 541–546 · doi:10.12891/ceog19332014 · PMID:25864256 · W2409645801
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-22 ⓘ

This study found that women with endometriosis had significantly lower serum zinc levels compared to healthy controls, suggesting zinc may play a role in the disease's pathogenesis.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-22 · read from full text ⓘ

This paper evaluated whether zinc is involved in the onset and persistence of endometriotic lesions by comparing serum zinc concentrations between 42 women with histologically diagnosed pelvic endometriosis and 44 healthy controls. Serum zinc was lower in the endometriosis group (1,010 ± 59.24 μg/l) than in controls (1,294 ± 62.22 μg/l), leading the authors to conclude that reduced zinc may relate to the multifactorial disease process, particularly via roles in inflammation and immunity. The main caveat stated by the authors is that the findings need confirmation through further investigation to determine the hypothesis’ reasonableness. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically links lower serum zinc levels to endometriotic lesion etiopathogenesis.

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Abstract

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Aim of the study was to evaluate the possible involvement of zinc in the complex pathogenic process behind the onset and perpetuation of endometriotic lesions. To study the level of zinc serum between a group of patients affected by endometriosis and a group of healthy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 86 women: 42 patients whose histodiagnosis had revealed pelvic endometriosis and 44 healthy patients. The authors measured the serum zinc concentration for all patients. RESULTS: The group of patients with endometriosis presented serum zinc concentration of 1010 +/- 59.24 microg/l. The observation group presented a serum zinc concentration of 1294 +/- 62.22 microg/l. CONCLUSION: The results showed that serum zinc levels in women with endometriosis are decreased and this seems to actually confirm that this microelement can possibly affect the multifactorial pathogenesis of the disease. As a matter of fact, zinc interferes with many biological processes, among which inflammation and immunity, which seem to be the base of the development of the lesions. Therefore, the authors believe that this hypothesis requires more attention and further investigation to determine its reasonableness. If the results are confirmed, this study opens up future prospects as for the treatment of endometriosis, taking into account also the role of zinc in the onset of male sterility and the development of testicles. Zinc could in fact be used as marker to detect women at high risk of endometriosis and for the elaboration of a new treatment for sterility, from which these women often suffer.
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Abstract

Purpose of investigation: Aim of the study was to evaluate the possible involvement of zinc in the complex pathogenic process behind the onset and perpetuation of endometriotic lesions. To study the level of zinc serum between a group of patients affected by endometriosis and a group of healthy patients. Materials and Methods: The study included 86 women: 42 patients whose histodiagnosis had revealed pelvic endometriosis and 44 healthy patients. The authors measured the serum zinc concentration for all patients. Results: The group of patients with endometriosis presented serum zinc concentration of 1,010 ± 59.24 μg/l. The observation group presented a serum zinc concentration of 1,294 ± 62.22 μg/l. Conclusion: The results showed that serum zinc levels in women with endometriosis are decreased and this seems to actually confirm that this micro-element can possibly affect the multifactorial pathogenesis of the disease. As a matter of fact, zinc interferes with many biological processes, among which inflammation and immunity, which seem to be the base of the development of the lesions. Therefore, the authors believe that this hypothesis requires more attention and further investigation to determine its reasonableness. If the results are confirmed, this study opens up future prospects as for the treatment of endometriosis, taking into account also the role of zinc in the onset of male sterility and the development of testicles. Zinc could in fact be used as marker to detect women at high risk of endometriosis and for the elaboration of a new treatment for sterility, from which these women often suffer.

Keywords

- Serum zinc levels - Endometriosis - Role of zinc

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Oxidative Stress Zinc Adult Biomarkers Biomarkers Disease Progression Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Middle Aged Prognosis Young Adult Zinc

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Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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