Exploring the link between dietary zinc intake and endometriosis risk: insights from a cross-sectional analysis of American women Original paper
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Karen Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
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STOPs
STOPs
A STOP (Suggested Termination Of Practices) is a recommendation that advocates for the discontinuation of certain medical interventions, treatments, or practices based on emerging evidence indicating that these may be ineffective, harmful, or counterproductive in the management of specific conditions.
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Karen Pendergrass
Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
This study investigated the association between dietary zinc intake and the risk of endometriosis among American women. Using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 1999 and 2006, the researchers aimed to evaluate whether zinc intake, as a key nutritional factor, was linked to the prevalence of endometriosis. Zinc is known for its essential roles in immune modulation, antioxidative defense, and regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), all of which are implicated in endometriosis progression.
Who was studied?
The study included 4,315 American women aged 20–54 years, of whom 331 were diagnosed with endometriosis based on self-reported doctor diagnoses. Participants’ dietary zinc intake was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall interviews, with additional data on demographics, lifestyle, and health covariates collected. Women with extreme caloric intakes or incomplete data were excluded to ensure robustness of results.
What were the most important findings?
The study revealed a positive correlation between higher dietary zinc intake and the risk of endometriosis. Women consuming over 14 mg/day of zinc had a significantly higher adjusted odds ratio (1.60, 95% CI: 1.12–2.27, p = 0.009) compared to those with intake ≤8 mg/day. Zinc’s dual role in immune modulation and antioxidative defense was emphasized, particularly its regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) like MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are key enzymes in tissue remodeling and endometriotic lesion invasion. Interestingly, despite zinc’s known antioxidative and anti-inflammatory roles, excessive intake appeared to have a counterproductive effect. These nuanced findings highlight zinc’s complex role in endometriosis pathophysiology.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
This research underscores the potential for dietary zinc as both a marker and modifiable factor in endometriosis risk. It raises questions about zinc’s dualistic effects, where optimal levels may support immune health, but excess intake could exacerbate estrogen-related pathways in endometriosis. Clinicians should be cautious when recommending zinc supplementation for reproductive health, particularly in populations at risk for endometriosis. Furthermore, this study strengthens the biological plausibility of microbiome involvement in endometriosis, as zinc is a crucial cofactor for microbial activity, and its imbalance may alter the gut and pelvic microbiota implicated in the disease.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace element vital for cellular functions and microbiome health. It influences immune regulation, pathogen virulence, and disease progression in conditions like IBS and breast cancer. Pathogens exploit zinc for survival, while therapeutic zinc chelation can suppress virulence, rebalance the microbiome, and offer potential treatments for inflammatory and degenerative diseases.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs)
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes that regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, with critical roles in health, disease, and interactions with the microbiome.
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs)
Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes that regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, with critical roles in health, disease, and interactions with the microbiome.