Is alcohol a risk factor for endometriosis?

No overall statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and endometriosis risk was observed.

Key Points

Highlight

• Conflicting results have been found regarding the relationship between alcohol consumption and endometriosis, with some suggesting a link and others finding no significant association.
• Further research is needed to determine the role of alcohol in the development and progression of endometriosis.

Importance

• Lifestyle factors, such as alcohol consumption, have been thoroughly investigated for their impact on endometriosis risk.
• Drinking alcohol may increase the risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities and alcohol abuse, highlighting the need for caution and moderation in alcohol consumption.

What’s done here

• A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to confirm the significant correlation between alcohol intake and endometriosis occurrence found in a previous study.
• The study included 23 articles discussing the impact of alcohol on endometriosis risk from 2012 to 2021.

Key results

• No overall statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and endometriosis risk was found.
• Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a slightly increased risk.
• Heavy alcohol consumption did not show a significant association.
• The sensitivity analysis showed a statistically significant association only when comparing moderate versus no alcohol consumers.

Lay Summary

As complex and unclear as endometriosis pathogenesis is, the influence of environmental factors on the inflammation that underlies the pathogenesis of endometriosis has been thoroughly investigated. Lifestyle factors such as diet, caffeine, environment, smoking, and alcohol consumption have been explored for their impact on endometriosis risk. In a previous meta-analysis by the same group of authors in 2013, a significant correlation between alcohol intake and endometriosis occurrence was found. The authors then aimed to confirm these findings through a systematic review and meta-analysis on this subject. The article was published in the November 2022 issue of the journal named "Scientific Reports".

This systematic review searched for articles discussing the impact of alcohol on endometriosis risk from 2012 to 2021, following PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were original data, clinical or histological diagnosis, and reporting alcohol intake. Data were extracted, pooled, and analyzed for heterogeneity and publication bias, with sensitivity analysis and quality assessment. The search revealed a total of 23 studies, 8 of which were newly selected. Most of the studies were case-control studies, and only one had a cross-sectional design, while three were cohort studies. The diagnosis of endometriosis was obtained by a surgical or clinical approach.

The meta-analysis found no overall statistically significant association between alcohol consumption and endometriosis risk. However, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a slightly increased risk. Heavy alcohol consumption did not show a significant association. The sensitivity analysis showed a statistically significant association only when comparing moderate versus no alcohol consumers.

The authors discuss that the relationship between alcohol consumption and endometriosis has shown conflicting results. While some studies suggest that alcohol consumption may be linked to endometriosis, possibly through interference with estrogen production, and exacerbation of pain, stress, and inflammation, others have found no significant association. Moreover, it was also shown that drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities and alcohol abuse. 

The authors conclude that the evidence for an association between alcohol consumption and endometriosis risk is limited. The role of alcohol in the development and progression of endometriosis remains uncertain and further research is needed.

Research Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36352037/