Cutting gluten and caffeine may ease endometriosis agony, says report

Edinburgh University study also suggests that those living with the disease try avoiding dairy and alcohol

- Victoria Allen

Dietary changes could reduce the pain of endometriosis for half of those living with the disease, a new study suggests.

The largest international survey ever conducted on diet and endometriosis, involving 2,599 people, found 45% of those who stopped eating gluten and 45% of those who cut out dairy reported experiencing an improvement in their pain.

When women cut down on coffee or other caffeine in their diet, 43% said their pain was reduced, while 53% of women who cut back on alcohol reported the same.

Philippa Saunders, senior author of the study and professor of reproductive steroids at Edinburgh University, said: "It really feels like we are on the cusp of something pretty big with understanding how diet affects endometriosis symptoms.

"It is so important for women if they feel they can do something for themselves to tackle the pain of endometriosis - that is tremendously empowering."

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. It affects one in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK.