Conditions that benefit from a gluten-free diet for Fertility - Endometriosis
Article 5 of 5 on conditions that benefit from a gluten free diet for fertility – Endometriosis
By Sally Marchini APD and Certified Fertility Dietitian
A gluten-free diet is essential for individuals with certain health conditions, but did you know that some of these conditions are also linked to fertility issues? As is a nutritionally poor gluten free diet, so just going ‘gluten free’ will not help.
Many people struggle with infertility without realising that an underlying health issue—often one that necessitates a gluten-free diet—could be contributing to their difficulties conceiving. This series of articles explore the key conditions that require a gluten-free diet or may benefit from a gluten free diet, and how they may impact fertility.
We’ve already looked at coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and PCOS. In this article we’ll cover our last but not least condition Endometriosis and gluten sensitivity.
Potential Benefits of a Gluten-Free Diet for Endometriosis
Pain Reduction: A study found that 75% of women with severe endometriosis-related pain reported significant pain reduction after 12 months on a gluten-free diet, with improvements in physical and mental health. Another study noted improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life among women with endometriosis who adopted a gluten-free diet.
Limitations and Considerations
Quality of Evidence: The evidence supporting the benefits of a gluten-free diet for endometriosis is generally of low quality, with potential placebo effects and confounding factors such as weight not always accounted for.
Diet Quality: Long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet can lead to impaired diet quality and nutrient intake, potentially resulting in negative health outcomes.
No Strong Causal Link: Some studies suggest that gluten intake is not a strong factor in the etiology or symptomatology of endometriosis, indicating that the benefits of a gluten-free diet may not be directly related to gluten itself.
If you would like to discuss any elements of this article with me to see if a high quality gluten free diet may be helpful for you to improve your condition and/or your fertility chances, then please send me a personal message and I will be pleased to help you to work through your concerns.
Accredited Practising Dietitian and Certified Fertility Dietitian, Sally Marchini of Marchini Nutrition, has type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease herself and is passionate about supporting others with these and other chronic conditions. You can follow her on her Instagram account @Marchini.Nutrition and Facebook page Marchini Nutrition,
References
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- Azziz, R., et al. (2016). Epidemiology and pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. *Nature Reviews Endocrinology*, 12(4), 219–231.
- Caron, P., et al. (2016). Coeliac disease and autoimmune thyroid diseases. *Endocrine*, 54(3), 394–403.
- Casella, S., et al. (2018). Coeliac disease and reproductive disorders: Meta-analysis of epidemiologic associations and potential pathogenic mechanisms. *Human Reproduction Update*, 24(4), 479–488.
- de Souza, A., et al. (2018). Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity: An emerging problem? *Clinical Nutrition*, 37(6), 3858–3864.
- Kiddy, D. S., et al. (1992). Dietary influences on reproductive hormones. *Clinical Endocrinology*, 36(2), 135–141.
- Lebwohl, B., et al. (2018). The epidemiology of coeliac disease. *Gastroenterology Clinics*, 47(1), 1–20.
- Mansournia, N., et al. (2020). The effect of gluten-free diet on autoimmune thyroiditis: A review. *Journal of Clinical Research in Thyroid Disease*, 7(2), 45–52
- Brouns, F. et al (2023). Diet associations in endometriosis: a critical narrative assessment with special reference to gluten *Frontiers in Nutrition*
- Schwartz, N. et al (2022). Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, Fiber, and Gluten Intake and Risk of Laparoscopically-Confirmed Endometriosis in Premenopausal Women *The Journal of nutrition*
- Goncalves, M., et al (2021) Analysis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in patients with endometriosis. *Brazilian Journal of Development*
- Marziali, M. et al (2012) Gluten free diet-a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms. *Minerva chirurgica*
- Giulienny, M.A.G. et al. (2021) Analysis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in patients with endometriosis. *Brazilian Journal of Development*
- Armour, M. et al (2021) Dietary practices of women with endometriosis: a cross sectional survey. * Journal of alternative and complementary medicine*
