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EndometriosisNCT05175248

Nutritional Intervention for Endometriosis

A study testing Plant-based Intervention Group in people with Endometriosis, run by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

In a 12-week parallel study, women with a verified diagnosis of endometriosis will be randomly assigned to follow a low-fat plant-based diet or to stay on their usual diets for 12 weeks. Participants in both groups will be asked to make no changes to their exercise patterns for the study period. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 45 years, women only
Conditions the study is for
Endometriosis
What is being tested?
Plant-based Intervention Group
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
120 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
2 Mar 2022to Dec 2029
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 45 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Women with a surgical, imaging, or clinical diagnosis of endometriosis
  • Age 18-45 years
  • Stable health condition and medications for past 3 months
  • Modified Biberoglu and Behrman (B\&B) pelvic pain score of at least 5/9
  • Able to follow a plant-based diet for 12 weeks
  • Willing to be randomly assigned to either a plant-based group or a control group that will not make any dietary changes for 12 weeks

Who cannot join

  • Body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2
  • Smoking or drug abuse during the past six months
  • Alcohol consumption of more than 2 drinks per day or the equivalent, episodic increased drinking (e.g., more than 2 drinks per day on weekends), or a history of alcohol abuse or dependency followed by any current use
  • Unstable medical or psychiatric illness
  • Already following a plant-based diet
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding, or plans of pregnancy within the study period
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Hysterectomy or ovariectomy
  • Fibroids, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Endocrine inflammatory conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Graves' disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and Addison's disease
  • Lack of English fluency
  • Unable or unwilling to participate in all components of the study
  • Evidence of an eating disorder

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20016

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nutritional Intervention for Endometriosis

In a 12-week parallel study, women with a verified diagnosis of endometriosis will be randomly assigned to follow a low-fat plant-based diet or to stay on their usual diets for 12 weeks. Participants in both groups will be asked to make no changes to their exercise patterns for the study period. Changes in pain, quality of life, and inflammatory biomarkers from baseline to final will be the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes will include changes in body weight, blood lipids, gut microbiome composition, and hormonal changes.

Read the detailed description

Endometriosis is a chronic, painful condition that affects 5-10% of reproductive aged women. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial cells outside the uterus, causing pain and infertility. Current therapies to temporarily control symptoms include surgery and medical options with significant side effects. Women with endometriosis may have several surgeries by their mid-20s. The medical costs associated with endometriosis in the US alone are about $3.6 billion annually, and the total annual health care cost associated with endometriosis in 2002 was $22 billion, one-third of which is direct health care costs, with two-thirds attributed to loss of productivity.

Diet may play important roles in endometriosis through its effect on circulating estrogen concentrations and inflammatory processes. Reduced fat intake and increased fiber intake have been shown to reduce estrogen levels, a key determinant of endometriosis activity. Some evidence suggests a pathogenic role for the gut microbiome, which influences the mucosal immune system and pelvic inflammation. The microbiome is responsive to short term dietary intervention, although long term changes have not been well characterized.

Therefore, the investigators propose a novel intervention strategy using a plant-based diet to improve pain, inflammation, and quality of life.

The morbidity caused by endometriosis is substantial in terms of pain, reduced quality of life, lost productivity, and effects on relationships. Current medical therapies are limited in efficacy and have major side effects. Typical palliative surgery does not cure endometriosis. Better understanding of diet's ability to influence the disease process has the potential to improve quality of life and daily functioning without the cost and side effects of current therapies.

Conditions
Endometriosis
Being tested
Plant-based Intervention Group
Keywords
endometriosis, plant-based, vegan, low-fat, diet, nutrition
Medical subject headings
Endometriosis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Plant-based Intervention GroupBehavioural

    Participants in the intervention group will be instructed in ways to adopt a plant-based diet, use appropriate methods of food preparation, and make meals enjoyable and appetizing. The plant-based diet primarily emphasizes whole grains, vegetables, beans and legumes, and fruits. Animal products and added oils will be proscribed and the use of ultra-processed foods, sugar, and sugar-sweetened beverages will be discouraged. Fat intake will be limited to 20-30 g/day.

Study groups in NCT05175248
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Plant-based Intervention GroupExperimentalIntervention group participants will adopt a low-fat, plant-based diet for 12 weeks. Participants will be provided with a commercially available supplement containing 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 and asked to take it daily during the study. Alcoholic beverages will be limited to 1 per day. Participants will be asked to keep their physical activity level constant.
Receives: Behavioral: Plant-based Intervention Group
Control GroupNo interventionControl group participants will be asked to maintain their usual diet for the duration of the 12-week study period. Participants will be provided with a commercially available supplement containing 100 micrograms of vitamin B12 and asked to take it daily during the study. Alcoholic beverages will be limited to 1 per day. Participants will be asked to keep their physical activity level constant. At the conclusion of the 12 weeks, control group participants will be offered instruction in the plant-based diet.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Modified Biberoglu and Behrman Scale: change from baseline

    Endometriosis-specific pain scale will be used. For inclusion in study, participants require a score of at least 5/9.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  2. Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30): change from baseline

    The EHP-30 questionnaire is the only validated quality of life questionnaire for the use in endometriosis.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  3. Inflammatory biomarkers: change from baseline

    Blood tests for biomarkers of inflammation (hsCRP, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6).

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Body weight: change from baseline

    Weight will be measured using a self-calibrating scale (Renpho).

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  2. Blood lipids: change from baseline

    Change in blood lipids assessed via blood tests including lipid panels.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  3. Estrogen levels: change from baseline

    Estradiol, free estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) will be measured through blood tests.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  4. Gut microbiome composition: change from baseline

    Participants will collect stool samples for microbiome analysis. Sample collection will be carried out using home collection procedures with samples returned through local post. The participants will apply a small smear to the tips of a swab from used toilet paper. The swab will, in turn, be used to transfer the smear to a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) card that will be returned by mail to a laboratory for analysis.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

  5. Biomarkers of endometriosis and inflammation: change from baseline

    Plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and IL-10 will be measured through blood tests.

    Measured: at baseline and at 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted3 Jan 2022
  2. Study start2 Mar 2022
  3. Primary completionDec 2029 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2029 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
120 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05175248
Sponsor's protocol ID
Pro00059650
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
14 Dec 2021
Last updated
20 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Kennedy S, Bergqvist A, Chapron C, D'Hooghe T, Dunselman G, Greb R, Hummelshoj L, Prentice A, Saridogan E; ESHRE Special Interest Group for Endometriosis and Endometrium Guideline Development Group. ESHRE guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2005 Oct;20(10):2698-704. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dei135. Epub 2005 Jun 24.

    PubMed 15980014
  • Khanaki K, Nouri M, Ardekani AM, Ghassemzadeh A, Shahnazi V, Sadeghi MR, Darabi M, Mehdizadeh A, Dolatkhah H, Saremi A, Imani AR, Rahimipour A. Evaluation of the relationship between endometriosis and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Iran Biomed J. 2012;16(1):38-43. doi: 10.6091/ibj.1025.2012.

    PubMed 22562031
  • Marik JJ. Leuprolide acetate depot and hormonal add-back in endometriosis: a 12-month study. Obstet Gynecol. 1998 May;91(5 Pt 1):793-4. doi: 10.1097/00006250-199805000-00029. No abstract available.

    PubMed 9572232
  • Stratton P, Sinaii N, Segars J, Koziol D, Wesley R, Zimmer C, Winkel C, Nieman LK. Return of chronic pelvic pain from endometriosis after raloxifene treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jan;111(1):88-96. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000297307.35024.b5.

    PubMed 18165396
  • Rogers PA, D'Hooghe TM, Fazleabas A, Giudice LC, Montgomery GW, Petraglia F, Taylor RN. Defining future directions for endometriosis research: workshop report from the 2011 World Congress of Endometriosis In Montpellier, France. Reprod Sci. 2013 May;20(5):483-99. doi: 10.1177/1933719113477495. Epub 2013 Feb 20.

    PubMed 23427182
  • Goldin BR, Woods MN, Spiegelman DL, Longcope C, Morrill-LaBrode A, Dwyer JT, Gualtieri LJ, Hertzmark E, Gorbach SL. The effect of dietary fat and fiber on serum estrogen concentrations in premenopausal women under controlled dietary conditions. Cancer. 1994 Aug 1;74(3 Suppl):1125-31. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19940801)74:3+3.0.co;2-5.

    PubMed 8039147
  • Sender R, Fuchs S, Milo R. Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body. PLoS Biol. 2016 Aug 19;14(8):e1002533. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002533. eCollection 2016 Aug.

    PubMed 27541692
  • Gill SR, Pop M, Deboy RT, Eckburg PB, Turnbaugh PJ, Samuel BS, Gordon JI, Relman DA, Fraser-Liggett CM, Nelson KE. Metagenomic analysis of the human distal gut microbiome. Science. 2006 Jun 2;312(5778):1355-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1124234.

    PubMed 16741115
  • Longman RS, Littman DR. The functional impact of the intestinal microbiome on mucosal immunity and systemic autoimmunity. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2015 Jul;27(4):381-7. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000190.

    PubMed 26002030
  • Hooper LV, Littman DR, Macpherson AJ. Interactions between the microbiota and the immune system. Science. 2012 Jun 8;336(6086):1268-73. doi: 10.1126/science.1223490. Epub 2012 Jun 6.

    PubMed 22674334
  • Ivanov II, Frutos Rde L, Manel N, Yoshinaga K, Rifkin DB, Sartor RB, Finlay BB, Littman DR. Specific microbiota direct the differentiation of IL-17-producing T-helper cells in the mucosa of the small intestine. Cell Host Microbe. 2008 Oct 16;4(4):337-49. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2008.09.009.

    PubMed 18854238
  • Wu HJ, Ivanov II, Darce J, Hattori K, Shima T, Umesaki Y, Littman DR, Benoist C, Mathis D. Gut-residing segmented filamentous bacteria drive autoimmune arthritis via T helper 17 cells. Immunity. 2010 Jun 25;32(6):815-27. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2010.06.001.

    PubMed 20620945
  • Mazmanian SK, Liu CH, Tzianabos AO, Kasper DL. An immunomodulatory molecule of symbiotic bacteria directs maturation of the host immune system. Cell. 2005 Jul 15;122(1):107-18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2005.05.007.

    PubMed 16009137
  • Mazmanian SK, Round JL, Kasper DL. A microbial symbiosis factor prevents intestinal inflammatory disease. Nature. 2008 May 29;453(7195):620-5. doi: 10.1038/nature07008.

    PubMed 18509436
  • Fredricks DN, Fiedler TL, Marrazzo JM. Molecular identification of bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med. 2005 Nov 3;353(18):1899-911. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa043802.

    PubMed 16267321

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Plant-based Intervention Group in people with Endometriosis, run by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Modified Biberoglu and Behrman Scale: change from baseline (time frame: at baseline and at 12 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05175248, which also lists 25 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.

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