Circulating DHA Omega-3 Levels Inversely Related to Risk of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is commonly found amongst women of reproductive age and is associated with infertility, significant pain, and other symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids have exhibited the potential to suppress endometriosis lesions in animal models while there is some evidence from the Nurses’ Health Study that higher intakes of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a lowered risk of endometriosis (Missmer, S. et al., Human Reprod., 25: 1528-1535 (2010). Since long-chain omega-3 fatty acid levels as EPA/DHA in the circulating blood reflect dietary intakes, the present research study investigated their levels in relation to the confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis. A total of 205 women (average age of 33 years) were studied. Of these, 24 were classified as having endometriosis (as confirmed surgically) while the remainder (181 ‘control’ women) had an infertility diagnosis which was due to various other factors but not to endometriosis. Blood samples were taken from the participants and the fatty acid compositions (including omega-3 , EPA/DHA , others ) of the serum lipid was determined by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy.