The disease is marked by heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, inflammation, and in some cases,infertility.
There is no known cause of endometriosis.
Some dietary supplements may be used alongside standard care to treat endometriosis.
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This article will discuss important information you should know about 11 supplements taken for endometriosis.
That means some supplement products may not contain what their labels say.
What Supplements Are Taken for Endometriosis?
No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Although endometriosis isn’t curable, it is treatable.
Pain medications, hormone therapy, and surgery are common treatments forsymptoms of endometriosis.
Some people choose to add dietary supplements to their endometriosis treatment plans.
Supplements may help reduceestrogenlevels, pain, andinflammation, easing endometriosis symptoms.
Remember that supplements should be used as a complementary treatment only and should never replace standardendometriosis treatments.
For the most part, research on supplements for endometriosis is in the early stages.
However, there is some evidence that certain nutrients and herbs may be beneficial.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin needed by your body for several important functions.
Some research shows that vitamin D may be useful for endometriosis.
Instead, vitamin D was found to have little to no effect on pain or other symptoms of endometriosis.
Other studies have found a potential link betweenvitamin D deficiencyand the development of endometriosis.
However, more research is necessary.
The UL for vitamin D for people over the age of 9 years old is 4,000 IU per day.
The UL for babies and young children varies between 1,000 IU and 3,000 IU per day.
Zinc
Zincis a trace mineral that you need in small amounts every day for your health.
Zinc is present in several foods as well as supplements and may provide benefits for people with endometriosis.
Additionally, researchers have found that azinc deficiencymay play a role in the development of endometriosis.
Studies have shown that people with endometriosis are more likely to have low zinc levels.
A zinc deficiency alone is not thought to cause endometriosis, however.
In general,zinc supplementdosage ranges from about 15 milligrams (mg) to 50 mg per day.
Babies and young children require between 2 mg and 8 mg of daily zinc.
Zinc needs are higher during pregnancy andlactation.
The UL for zinc is 40 mg per day for adults.
This means that adults should avoid consuming more than 40 mg of zinc daily through supplements and foods.
Taking too much zinc may cause side effects in some people.
Zinc may also interact with certain medications, including antibiotics,penicillamine, and diuretics.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should especially take caution when using zinc and avoid taking large doses.
Omega-3s have been found to help regulate both pain and inflammation, two common symptoms of endometriosis.
However, other studies have found omega-3s to have little to no effect on endometriosis-related pain.
Although there aren’t RDAs for omega-3s, adequate intakes (AIs) are recommended for optimal intake.
The AIs for omega-3s (and other nutrients) are thought to provide adequate amounts of the nutrient.
Females need 1.1 g (1,100 mg) of daily omega-3s.
Needs are lower for infants and children and higher for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Omega-3 supplements are mostly thought to be safe.
Chronically high doses of omega-3s may cause a weakened immune system or increased bleeding.
Omega-3s can act as blood thinners and may increase the effects of blood thinners andanticoagulants, such aswarfarin.
Curcumin
Curcuminis a bioactive substance found in the spice turmeric.
Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help with endometriosis.
Curcumin has also been found to reduceoxidative stress, which may be useful in endometriosis management.
To date, there isn’t enough human research to back these claims up.
More research is necessary.
Dosage
There isn’t a consensus on how much curcumin you should take for endometriosis.
In general, little is known about curcumin dosages.
Some research has shown that a dose of 2 g of curcumin per day may reduce acute pain.
Curcumin has been deemed GRAS (“Generally Recognized as Safe”) by the FDA.
However, there are reports of side effects likediarrhea, headache, nausea,rash, and yellow stool.
These side effects may be more likely with high doses of curcumin.
Like other supplements, curcumin may interact with certain medications.
NAC may reduce endometriosis pain and other symptoms.
NAC supplementation was also associated with decreased size of endometriosis lesions and increased rate of fertility in the study.
Few other studies have been performed on NAC for endometriosis.
Larger and better-designed studies are necessary.
There isn’t reliable information regarding the dosage of NAC.
This is due to an overall lack of scientific evidence.
Single doses of up to 8,000 mg have been given intravenously.
Using oral NAC supplements may lead to side effects like upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and heartburn.
NAC may interact with certain medications.
In alternative medicine, EGCG has been used for endometriosis and other diseases.
EGCG acts as an antioxidant and may help fight inflammation and pain related to endometriosis.
EGCG dosage information is mainly based on animal studies.
This means there is not enough data to provide safe EGCG dosage recommendations for humans.
EGCG is generally considered safe, but there are some factors to consider before using it.
A dose of 338 mg per day of EGCG is considered safe.
However, liver damage cases are rare.
You may need to avoid using EGCG if you take the drugsirinotecan,atorvastatin, ornadololbecause of possible interactions.
Small studies have shown that milk thistle can potentially benefit those who have endometriosis.
The main active component of milk thistle,silymarin, has known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Additional long-term and well-designed studies are needed to confirm the effects of milk thistle and silymarin on endometriosis.
There isn’t much information regarding safe milk thistle dosage for endometriosis.
Silymarin is considered safe in doses of up to 2,100 mg daily for 24 weeks.
However, much smaller doses may be effective.
Milk thistle may cause gastrointestinal side effects.
Because milk thistle may cause lower blood sugar, you should limit or avoid using it if you havediabetes.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk with a healthcare provider about using milk thistle.
Interactions between milk thistle and medications or supplements have not been proved.
However, interactions are still possible, so take precautions.
Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Diindolylmethane(DIM) is a product of digestingcruciferousvegetables likebroccoliandcauliflower.
Research shows that estrogen receptors (which are important in endometriosis) are impacted by DIM.
There isn’t much reliable information regarding proper DIM dosage.
It’s worth noting, though, that these studies looked at DIM for cancer.
More research is necessary to determine safe and effective dosage for DIM, especially for endometriosis.
DIM may cause side effects.
Commonly reported side effects of DIM include nausea, headache, and vomiting.
Avoid using DIM if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because little is known about its safety for these populations.
Researchers worry that DIM may interact with some medications.
However, there is no documentation of proven interactions at this time.
Play it safe and talk with a healthcare provider before using DIM if you take any medications.
It is most often used in women’s health and reproduction.
Clinical research supports the use of vitex for infertility.
There is also some evidence that it may reduce estrogen levels, but research results have been mixed.
The role of vitex in endometriosis has mostly been studied in animals, so more human research is necessary.
More data is necessary before vitex dosage recommendations are possible.
In general, though, vitex dosing varies and may depend on the condition treated.
A healthcare provider can help you determine the proper dosage.
Side effects are possible but rare when taking vitex.
There is some concern that vitex may interact with medications used to treatParkinson’s disease, including dopamine agonists.
Vitex may also interact withmetoclopramide.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera) is a medicinal plant used inAyurvedaand other forms of alternative medicine.
Although it is most commonly used for stress and anxiety, ashwagandha may also help with endometriosis.
Various studies have found ashwagandha to have an estrogen-balancing effect.
This may be due topolyphenolsin ashwagandha that are thought to act similarly to estrogen.
As research on ashwagandha continues, more studies are necessary to prove its role in endometriosis.
Ashwagandha dosage varies, yet there isn’t much information on safe and effective dosing for it.
More human research is necessary to determine the proper ashwagandha dosage for endometriosis.
Ashwagandha is considered safe for most people, with few reported side effects.
Due to safety concerns, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid using ashwagandha for any reason.
Ashwagandha may interact with supplements and medications that have similar effects.
Resveratrol
Resveratrolis a phytochemical and antioxidant found in various plants.
It has long been studied for its potential benefits for certain health conditions, including endometriosis.
The antioxidant may also reduce menstrual pain associated with endometriosis.
More research is necessary.
Resveratrol is water-soluble (meaning it dissolves in water) and typically requires a larger dose to be effective.
Additional studies are necessary to determine adequate resveratrol dosage for endometriosis.
Until then, talk with a healthcare provider about the correct dose for you.
Liver dysfunction has also been reported as a side effect of taking resveratrol.
Resveratrol may interact withanticoagulants(blood thinners),antiplatelets, andtamoxifen.
There is also some evidence that resveratrol may interact withnon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
In rare cases, endometrial tissue may grow in other parts of the body.
Though prescription medications and surgery are first-line treatments for endometriosis, supplements may also help.
Specific supplements for endometriosis have been studied and found to provide potential benefits.
However, more research on how these supplements may be beneficial for people with endometriosis is necessary overall.
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