Effects of vitamin supplementation on related symptoms in women with endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Endometriosis is a gynecological disease with high occurrence, and symptoms include dysmenorrhea, infertility, and dyspareunia, which seriously affect women's quality of life. Antioxidants are beneficial in improving the symptoms of endometriosis, but there are still differences in their results. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the effects of vitamin supplementation (vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin D) on the related symptoms in women with endometriosis. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Data were searched up to June 2024, and the randomized controlled trials were included to evaluate the effects of vitamins on endometriosis symptoms. The primary outcomes included the scores of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia. Results: Nine studies involving 562 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the placebo group, vitamin E supplementation significantly alleviated the pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis [ Conclusions: When taking vitamin E, vitamin D, or vitamin C combined with vitamin E to improve endometriosis-related symptoms, only vitamin E supplementation is beneficial to alleviate pelvic pain in women with endometriosis, and none of these vitamins can relieve endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia. This study will provide a clinical reference for the treatment of endometriosis-related symptoms.