Please note: This trial has finished recruiting and is not accepting new participants.

Research Center: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Location: 5100 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20016-4131
Lead Researcher: Hana Kahleova, MD, Ph.D.
IRB: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Advarra Institutional Review Board

About the Study

Living with endometriosis can be challenging, especially when you’re dealing with pain that’s often difficult to diagnose and treat. You’re not alone – endometriosis affects 5-10% of reproductive-aged women. Current therapies to temporarily control its symptoms include surgery and medical options with significant side effects. Diet interventions may also help, but more research needs to be done on non-invasive therapies that may provide relief. 

Researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine aim to study whether a plant-based diet intervention may improve the pain and quality of life of individuals with endometriosis. The results of this study may help improve the understanding of endometriosis treatments and may provide more ways to reduce the costs associated with this condition. 

Why Participate? 

• Participants may be able to try a plant-based diet intervention for endometriosis at no cost.
• Participants may experience improvements in their endometriosis symptoms. 
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may benefit those with endometriosis in the future.
• Participants will be compensated up to $100 for participating in this study. Compensation will only be provided to eligible participants for each health assessment they complete.
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research on endometriosis.

Your Rights

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

Who Can Participate?

• Females aged 18-45 who are diagnosed with endometriosis
• Must live in the Washington, DC metro area
• Must be willing to participate in all components of the study whether randomized to the control or intervention group
• Must have stable health conditions and medications for the past 3 months
• Must not be on a plant-based diet
• Must be able to participate in the study online from home, coming into the research site for laboratory testing at the beginning and end of the study

More Study Details 

The study team will explain the research in its entirety but some details are:

• Participants will be randomly assigned to either a plant-based group or a control group. 
  • Those assigned to the plant-based group will be asked to follow a plant-based diet for 12 weeks.
  • Those assigned to the control group will not make any dietary changes for 12 weeks.
  • Participants will be asked to attend weekly Zoom sessions on Thursdays at 5:00 pm ET if randomized to the plant-based group
• Participants will be asked to take vitamin B12 (to be provided at no cost) daily
• Participants will be asked to answer questionnaires, maintain current physical activity levels and medications, and limit their alcohol use.
• Participants will be asked to provide blood and stool samples.

About the Research Center:

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
The Physicians Committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, headquartered in Washington, DC. Their efforts are dramatically changing the way doctors treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and cancer. By putting prevention over pills, doctors are empowering their patients to take control of their own health.

Please note:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers would like to assure the participants that their and the study staff’s safety is of utmost importance.