Low FODMAP diet helpful for endometriosis?

How many people with endometriosis use Low FODMAP diet to relieve their symptoms?

12,68% of people with endometriosis have already tried Low FODMAP diet to relieve endometriosis in our survey.

15,38% of them find that Low FODMAP diet very helpful.
The following table shows the endometriosis remedy Low FODMAP diet among people with endometriosis. The scale ranges from 1 (not helpful at all) to 5 (very helpful).

Does Low FODMAP diet help with endometriosis?

Low FODMAP diet
(n = 221)
15,38%
20,81%
21,27%
19,00%
23,53%

Tabular summary for Low FODMAP diet

Rating Percent Count
not helpful at all 23,53% 52
hardly helpful 19,00% 42
slightly helpful 21,27% 47
helpful 20,81% 46
very helpful 15,38% 34

Low FODMAP diet bei Endometriose

The saying ‚You are what you eat‘ also applies to your endometriosis. A carefully tailored meal plan can make an important contribution to easing your symptoms. In addition to vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free diets, there is, for example, the so-called low FODMAP diet. FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are specific carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that are considered poorly tolerated and gas-forming. Low FODMAP therefore means that only foods that contain few to none of these substances should be consumed. Cornerstones include gluten- and lactose-free products, lean meats, and minimal refined sugar or glucose. Many, though not all, fruits and vegetables are also low in FODMAPs.

That probably sounds like a major change at first. However, studies have shown that a low FODMAP diet can be particularly helpful for patients who have both irritable bowel syndrome and endometriosis. After four weeks, bloating (Endo-Belly), digestive complaints, and intestinal pain were markedly reduced in 72% of participants. To help ensure that this dietary change is successful for you as well, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should consult your physician to determine whether the low FODMAP diet is appropriate for you. It is also advisable to involve a dietitian. Both are important to prevent deficiencies and to monitor and support the course of the dietary transition, which is not entirely straightforward. Initially, all FODMAPs are strictly eliminated. In a second step, specific foods are gradually reintroduced to see which ones you tolerate well and in what amounts. Over the long term, the goal is to determine how much of what suits you and what you are better off limiting. A permanent abstinence from certain products is therefore not necessarily the outcome in every case.

Further sources:

  • Altobelli E. et al. 2017. „Low-FODMAP Diet Improves Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis.“ Nutrients 9(9).
  • Moore, S.J. et al. 2017. „Endometriosis in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: Specific symptomatic and demographic profile, and response to the low FODMAP diet.“ The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 57(2): 201-205.

Did you know that you can also have a big influence on endometriosis symptoms yourself? In the Endo App you learn self-management techniques for endometriosis and find many interactive exercises to relieve symptoms.