Many patients with endometriosis experience extra genital and abdominal symptoms as a major part of their problem. This includes gastrointestinal dysfunction with pain, urinary symptoms compatible with interstitial cystitis and gastrointestinal symptoms resembling the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Such problems may be secondary to changes in autonomous neuronal structure and function elicited by the endometriotic elements, which may cause a "visceral syndrome" with the above mentioned symptoms. The investigators hypothesize that dietary treatment will improve the experience of gastrointestinal symptoms, pain and quality of life in patients with endometriosis-related irritable bowel syndrome. The aim of this first randomized, placebo controlled pilot study investigating patients with both endometriosis and IBS, is to test the application of a low FODMAP diet and a placebo diet for endometriosis-related IBS-like symptoms in order to stablish a platform for a randomized controlled study. Thus, the primary aim of this pilot study is to investigate the applicability of a placebo diet in patients with endometriosis and to investigate the compliance in both intervention group and control group. In addition, the aim is to investigate whether the participants find the diet manageable and whether they are able to identify the placebo diet.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
22
The participants follow the diet in 4 weeks. They have been provided with some foods (bread, pasta, cereal products), but will by the rest themselves. They have been provided with lists of foods to include and foods to avoid. They have also been provided with suggestions to a 4 week meal plan, based in their individual need for energy.
Aarhus University Hospital
Aarhus, Denmark
Compliance to the diet measured by a self-administered questionnaire with a percentage scale for every meal consumed
Time frame: four weeks
How manageable the participants experience the diet, measured by semi-quantitative questionnaire designed by the study group
Time frame: four weeks
Identification of intervention group measured by the question: "What group do you think you were assigned to?"
Time frame: four weeks
Gastrointestinal symptoms measured by the questionnaire: The Gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) version
Time frame: four weeks
IBS related quality of life measured by the questionnaire: Irritable bowel syndrome - Quality of Life
Time frame: four weeks
Endometriosis related quality of life measured by the questionnaire: The Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30)
Time frame: four weeks
Intake of nutrients calculated in by: The Monash University Comprehensive Food Frequency Questionnaire (CNAQ) based on the participants self-reported 7-days food registration
Time frame: four weeks
Intermenstrual pain measured by VAS scale
Time frame: four weeks
Global symptom relief measured by the question: "Did you have sufficient relief in your IBS-symptoms during the last 7 days?"
Time frame: four weeks
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