Effect of Fish-Derived Lipids on Inflammatory Status, Nutritional Status, Pain Perception, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Health Outcomes in Women With Endometriosis
Effect of Fish-Derived Lipids on Inflammatory Status, Nutritional Status, Pain Perception, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Health Outcomes in Women With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory gynecological disease that may be associated with pelvic pain, painful menstruation, reduced quality of life, impaired daily functioning, and changes in nutritional and metabolic health. Diet, particularly the type and amount of dietary fatty acids, may influence inflammatory pathways involved in endometriosis.
The purpose of this interventional study is to evaluate the effect of a 12-week nutritional intervention using BioMarine® Medical Immuno & Neuro Lipids, a food for special medical purposes containing fish-derived lipids, on nutritional status, inflammatory status, lipid profile, pain perception, health status, and health-related quality of life in women with endometriosis.
The study includes 50 women aged 18 to 40 years with endometriosis confirmed by a gynecologist. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The control group follows a balanced diet based on the Polish Healthy Eating Plate recommendations. The intervention group follows the same dietary recommendations and additionally consumes BioMarine® Medical Immuno & Neuro Lipids at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg body weight daily for 12 weeks.
The study assesses dietary habits, nutritional knowledge, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, body composition, lipid profile, selected inflammatory markers, calprotectin, pain intensity, and endometriosis-related quality of life. The results may help to better understand whether fish-derived lipids combined with dietary intervention can support symptom management and improve selected health outcomes in women with endometriosis.
This is an interventional study conducted among women diagnosed with endometriosis. Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease associated with pelvic pain, painful and heavy menstruation, reduced fertility, impaired daily functioning, and reduced health-related quality of life. Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of endometriosis and may involve prostaglandins, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor, and other inflammatory mediators.
Dietary factors, particularly the quality and type of dietary fatty acids, may influence inflammatory pathways. Saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids may promote inflammatory processes, whereas mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, may contribute to the regulation of inflammatory responses. However, evidence regarding the effect of complex fish-derived lipid preparations on inflammatory status, lipid metabolism, intestinal inflammation, pain, nutritional status, and quality of life in women with endometriosis remains limited.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a 12-week nutritional intervention using BioMarine® Medical Immuno & Neuro Lipids, a food for special medical purposes, on nutritional status, inflammatory status, lipid profile, pain perception, health status, and health-related quality of life in women with endometriosis.
The study includes 46 women aged 18 to 40 years with endometriosis confirmed by a gynecologist. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The control group follows a balanced diet based on the Polish Healthy Eating Plate recommendations. The intervention group follows the same dietary recommendations and additionally consumes BioMarine® Medical Immuno & Neuro Lipids daily for 12 weeks. The product is consumed at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg body weight per day, divided into two portions taken 15 to 20 minutes before breakfast and dinner. If adverse reactions occur, the daily dose may be divided into three portions taken before breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The dietary intervention aims to improve overall diet quality and support a balanced dietary pattern. Participants are asked to maintain their usual physical activity patterns during the study. Health status and well-being are monitored through online meetings and telephone contact to identify possible adverse events. Participants also keep an intervention diary in which they record consumed foods and beverages, prescribed and non-prescribed medications, painkillers, contraceptives, supplements, topical preparations, and herbal products.
Assessments are performed before the intervention, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks, depending on the type of measurement. Dietary intake and eating habits are assessed using selected questions from the KomPAN questionnaire and 3-day dietary records. Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits are also evaluated using an online questionnaire.
Nutritional status is assessed using anthropometric measurements and body composition analysis. Measurements include body weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio. Body composition is assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Biochemical assessment is performed using fasting venous blood samples collected before and after the intervention. The analyzed parameters include serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Selected inflammatory markers are also assessed, including interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and fecal calprotectin.
Pain intensity is assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale. Health-related quality of life is assessed using the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire. The study also evaluates dietary knowledge and eating habits in order to identify areas where women with endometriosis may benefit from nutritional education.
The main aim of the study is to determine whether the addition of BioMarine® Medical Immuno & Neuro Lipids to a balanced dietary intervention provides additional benefits compared with dietary intervention alone in women with endometriosis. The study may provide new knowledge on the relationship between nutrition, fish-derived lipids, inflammatory status, lipid metabolism, intestinal inflammation, pain perception, nutritional status, and quality of life in this population.
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