Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

What was studied

This meta-analysis looked at a low-FODMAP diet in women with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a long-term, inflammatory disease of the female reproductive tract. It lowers quality of life. The team searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane for randomised and observational studies. Outcomes were scored with the Endometriosis Health Profile-30. Data were pooled with a random-effects model. The studies had 90 women, aged 34 on average. Follow-up averaged 3.5 months.

What they found

The pooled mean score after the diet was 28.45 for pain. It was 39.33 for control and helplessness. It was 31.87 for emotional well-being and 38.94 for social support. The score for self-image was 43.22. Heterogeneity was high for pain and for control and helplessness. It was low for emotional well-being and social support.

What it means for patients

The authors say the diet was linked with gains across several quality-of-life domains. They say the findings are hypothesis-generating. They say larger, well-designed randomised trials must confirm them.

Why it is not certain yet

The studies were few and small. Results should be read with caution. The abstract gives only post-diet scores. Confirmation in larger randomised trials is needed.

Source

Effects of a Low-FODMAP Diet on Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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