Exploring the Association Between Dietary Fruit Intake and Endometriosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder affecting up to 10% of women of reproductive age. The etiology of endometriosis remains unclear; however, there is growing interest in identifying modifiable risk factors, particularly dietary influences. The present study aims to systematically evaluate the association between fruit consumption and the incidence of endometriosis. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published from 1 January 1990 to 30 September 2024. Relevant data were extracted and categorized, and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklists. Additionally, meta-analyses were performed using STATA 18.0 to compare daily and weekly fruit consumption among women with and without endometriosis. Results: The analysis included six studies comprising 3689 women with endometriosis and 1463 controls. The meta-analysis revealed no significant association between daily fruit consumption and the risk of endometriosis (odds ratio (OR): 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–1.01). Similarly, weekly fruit consumption did not demonstrate a significant link to endometriosis risk (OR 1.03, 95% CI: 0.78–1.35). The assessment of publication bias using Begg’s and Egger’s tests, along with contour-enhanced funnel plots, indicated the absence of publication bias in the data across both analysis groups. Conclusions: This study indicates that fruit consumption does not significantly influence the risk of developing endometriosis. Additional research is necessary to examine preferred dietary interventions for populations affected by this condition.