Vitamin D in endometriosis: A causative or confounding factor?

Sayegh L, Lamia Sayegh, Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, Ghada El‐Hajj Fuleihan, Fuleihan Gel-H, Nassar AH, Anwar H Nassar
Metabolism: clinical and experimental · 2013 · vol. 63(1) , pp. 32–41 · doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2013.09.012 · PMID:24135500 · W2054966650
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-13 ⓘ

This review investigates whether vitamin D plays a causal role in endometriosis development or if its observed association is merely correlational.

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Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to review the evidence from studies that evaluated the relationship between vitamin D and endometriosis.DesignComprehensive review.Materials and methodsSystematic literature search in Medline for relevant publications from 1946 until June 2013.ResultsEndometriosis risk may be influenced by dietary vitamin D intake and plasma hydroxyvitamin D concentration. Vitamin D receptor and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes, 24-hydroxylase and 1-α hydroxylase, are found in the normal cycling endometrium and also in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. The endometrium is a target of 1, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D actions through regulation of specific genes and via immunomodulation. The endometrium in endometriosis expresses dysregulation of some vitamin D enzymes and receptors. If vitamin D and its metabolites are implicated in endometriosis-associated infertility, it is likely through interference with HOXA10 gene expression. The Gc2 phenotype of vitamin D binding protein is prevalent in women with endometriosis and may be implicated in its pathogenesis. In a mouse model, Elocalcitol, a VDR-agonist was shown to reduce the development of endometriotic lesions and recurrence.ConclusionA biological plausibility for a role of vitamin D, as an immunomodulator and anti-inflammatory agent, in the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis is suggested in this article, but is difficult to illustrate due to sparse evidence from human studies limited primarily to case-control studies. A significant knowledge gap precludes the establishment of a clear cause-effect relationship. The intriguing leads presented herein need to be investigated further with placebo-controlled supplementation trials.

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Condition tags

dysmenorrheaendometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Calcitriol Endometriosis Endometrium Infertility, Female Receptors, Calcitriol Vitamin D Animals Antineoplastic Agents Antineoplastic Agents Autoimmunity Calcitriol Calcitriol Calcitriol Chronic Pain Chronic Pain Dietary Supplements Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

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.

References (100)

Cited by (29)

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europepmc
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pubmed
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK