Anti-inflammatory effect of the Mediterranean diet in women with endometriosis: a literature review

Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects many women and presents symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia and infertility, which interfere with quality of life, damaging physical and mental health, as well as social and intimate relationships. Therefore, changing eating habits, with the adoption of diets rich in anti-inflammatory compounds and like the Mediterranean pattern, can interfere with the pathophysiological processes of the disease, such as inflammation, metabolism and hormone activity. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to investigate evidence on the anti-inflammatory effect of the Mediterranean diet as a therapeutic approach in the context of endometriosis. To this end, this study consists of a complete literature analysis related to the topic addressed, using the PubMed (US National Library of Medicine) databases. Applying the descriptors in Health Science (DeCs): Mediterranean diet, anti-inflammatory diet, endometriosis and nutrition. For the inclusion criteria, complete articles published in the last 5 years, written in Portuguese and English, were selected. Regarding the results, it was verified that the different nutrient modifiers present in the Mediterranean diet provide anti-inflammatory effects that reduce pain, control hormones and improve the quality of life of women diagnosed with endometriosis. However, given the results obtained, the Mediterranean diet presents promising results in combating pain and inflammatory processes, and can be used as a nutritional strategy for the treatment and prevention of endometriosis.