Effects of Vitamin D on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

BackgroundEndometriosis is a disabling disease of reproductive-age women. Dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain are the main symptoms of endometriosis. Its etiology is not clear. Endometriosis may have various causes, including vitamin D deficiency, but its effect is controversial.Material/MethodsIn this double-blind clinical trial, we enrolled patients with endometriosis diagnosed and treated by laparoscopy, with scores of at least 3 for of dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain at 8 weeks after surgical treatment. They were randomly prescribed vitamin D (50 000 IU weekly for 12 weeks) or placebo. Severity of pain in the 2 groups (placebo and treatment) was compared by VAS test at 24 weeks after surgical treatment.ResultsThere were 19 patients in the vitamin D group and 20 in the placebo group. Baseline characteristics in the 2 groups were similar. Following the treatment with vitamin D or placebo, we did not find significant differences in severity of pelvic pain (p=0.24) and dysmenorrhea (p=0.45) between the 2 groups. Mean pelvic pain at 24 weeks after laparoscopy in the vitamin D group was 0.84±1.74 and in placebo group it was 0.68±1.70 (p=0.513). Mean dysmenorrhea was 2.10±2.33 in the vitamin D group and 2.73±2.84 in the placebo group (p=0.45).ConclusionsAfter ablative surgery for endometriosis, vitamin D treatment did not have a significant effect in reducing dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain.

Diet and endometriosis-revisiting the linkages to inflammation

“…In a double-blind clinical trial involving women with diagnosed endometriosis, Vitamin D supplementation had no effect in reducing dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain, relative to those without supplementation. 69 However, in an observational study involving women with ovarian endometriosis, those with lower serum levels of vitamin D (considered hypovitaminosis D) were more prone to have endometriosis than women with normal serum vitamin D levels. Interestingly, a linear correlation between serum 1,25(OH)-D3 levels and diameter of ovarian endometriomas was reported.…”

Investigação sobre os aspectos nutricionais relacionados à endometriose

“…Após 24 semanas de intervenção, os pesquisadores observaram que não houve diferença significativa entre os efeitos da ingestão de vitamina D e do placebo na severidade da dor pélvica crônica (p = 0,24). Os autores concluíram que deve haver uma relação entre vitamina D e a patogênese da endometriose, mas no estudo o uso da vitamina não foi efetivo no tratamento da dor relacionada à doença (Almassinokiani et al, 2016). Missmer et al (2010), analisaram 12 anos de dados do Estudo de Saúde das Enfermeiras II (NHS II) com o intuito de verificar se a ingesta de gorduras possuía relação com o risco de endometriose.…”

Vitamin D and endometriosis: looking for new opportunities

“…В двойном слепом исследовании F. Almassinokiani и соавт. [30] был оценен эффект витамина D при хронической тазовой боли у пациенток с лапароскопически диагностированным эндометриозом. В группу исследования включили 39 пациенток через 8 нед после хирургического лечения с оценками по визуальной аналоговой шкале (ВАШ) не менее 3 баллов для дисменореи и/или тазовой боли.…”

“…Выраженность болевого синдрома в двух группах (лечение и плацебо) сравнивали на основании результатов ВАШ через 24 нед после хирургического лечения. После лечения витамином D или плацебо не было обнаружено достоверных различий между двумя группами в тяжести хронической тазовой боли и дисменореи, что, возможно, связано с небольшим объемом наблюдений [30].…”