Dietary Interventions and Lifestyle Factors in Endometriosis: A Scoping Review of Their Impact on Inflammation, Pain, Fertility and Quality of Life

Julia Kujawa, Dominika Adrianna Ossowska, Laura Magdalena Sikorska, Magdalena Aleksandra Boniecka, Klaudia Ścibior, Wiktor Wardyn, Aleksandra Kostańska, Anna Jankowska, Oliwia Dziewięcka, Wojciech Ziębka, Nela Poznańska
In: Quality in Sport · 2026 · vol. 77 , pp. 75436 · doi:10.12775/qs.2026.77.75436 · W7214646055
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This scoping review of thirty studies found that anti-inflammatory dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet and specific supplements may reduce inflammation and improve symptoms in women with endometriosis.

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This scoping review analyzed thirty studies published between 2017 and 2026 to evaluate the impact of dietary patterns, physical activity, and nutritional supplementation on inflammation, pain, fertility, and quality of life in women with endometriosis. The authors found that anti-inflammatory diets, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may help reduce inflammation and improve symptom control, while specific supplements like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and polyphenols showed potential supportive effects despite inconsistent evidence across the literature. The paper explicitly notes that current data remains insufficient for establishing definitive evidence-based nutritional recommendations, highlighting the need for further high-quality prospective studies to validate these complementary management approaches. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically examining how lifestyle factors influence its inflammatory and symptomatic progression.

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Abstract

Background. Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, immune dysregulation and hormonal imbalance contribute to disease progression, pain, infertility and reduced quality of life. Increasing evidence suggests that dietary interventions may play a supportive role in the management of endometriosis by modulating inflammatory pathways and improving clinical outcomes. Aim. The aim of this scoping review was to examine the role of diet and physical activity in modulating inflammation and symptoms in women with endometriosis, with particular focus on dietary patterns, nutritional supplementation and their impact on pain, fertility and quality of life. Material and methods. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Articles published in English between 2017 and 2026 were screened using keywords related to endometriosis, diet, inflammation, pain, fertility, physical activity and nutritional supplementation. Thirty studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the final review. Results. The findings suggest that anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may reduce inflammation and improve symptom control in women with endometriosis. Selected nutritional supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D in deficient individuals, and polyphenols, may have potential supportive effects, although the available evidence remains inconsistent. Conclusions. Dietary and lifestyle interventions may represent valuable complementary approaches in endometriosis management, and further high-quality prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based nutritional recommendations.
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Material

and methods. A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Articles published in English between 2017 and 2026 were screened using keywords related to endometriosis, diet, inflammation, pain, fertility, physical activity and nutritional supplementation. Thirty studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the final review. Results. The findings suggest that anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may reduce inflammation and improve symptom control in women with endometriosis. Selected nutritional supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D in deficient individuals, and polyphenols, may have potential supportive effects, although the available evidence remains inconsistent. Conclusions. Dietary and lifestyle interventions may represent valuable complementary approaches in endometriosis management, and further high-quality prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based nutritional recommendations.

References

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Endometriosis and physical activity: A narrative review. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2023;163(3):747–56. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.14898 Downloads Published How to Cite Issue Section License Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Anna Kujawa, Dominika Adrianna Ossowska, Laura Magdalena Sikorska, Magdalena Aleksandra Boniecka, Klaudia Ścibior, Wiktor Wardyn, Aleksandra Kostańska, Anna Jankowska, Oliwia Dziewięcka, Wojciech Ziębka, Nela Poznańska This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Stats Number of views and downloads: 52 Number of citations: 0

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