Vitamin C and E for endometriosis pain
What it found
In women with endometriosis, a mix of vitamin C and vitamin E was linked to more women reporting less pelvic pain, period pain and pain during sex than those taking a placebo.
The authors say the evidence is not yet strong enough to be sure.
What they found
Studies in people
Everyday pelvic pain
Across four trials, more women taking the vitamin C and E combination reported less chronic pelvic pain than those taking a placebo. In one trial, the antioxidant group's pain score fell from 66.26 to 12.43 by week 8, while the placebo group's score rose slightly.
Period pain
Across four trials, more women taking the vitamins reported relief from menstrual pain than those taking a placebo. In one trial, the antioxidant group's pain score dropped by 32.37 points, compared with 19.44 points in the placebo group.
Pain during sex
Across four trials, more women taking the vitamins reported less pain during sex than those taking a placebo. In one trial, the antioxidant group's pain score fell from 66.26 to 15.43 by week 8, while the placebo group's score changed little.
Other findings
Study quality
Only one of the five trials was judged to have a low risk of bias. The other four had some concerns, mostly because they did not clearly describe how women were assigned to groups.
What the authors conclude
“This study suggests the potential ability of vitamin C and E in alleviating pain symptoms experienced by individuals with endometriosis.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the findings suggest vitamin C and vitamin E may help ease pain in people with endometriosis.
- They call for more research with larger sample sizes and longer durations to confirm the results.
How it was done
Pain is the main problem for people with endometriosis, and usual painkillers can cause side effects. The authors wanted to see if antioxidant vitamins C and E could help, since oxidative stress is thought to play a part in the pain.
They pooled five randomised controlled trials with a total of 338 women who had endometriosis. Most trials gave vitamin C 1000 mg per day plus vitamin E 1200 IU per day, or a placebo, for 8 weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- The trials were small and followed women for only about two months, so the long-term effects are unknown.
- Four of the five trials had some risk of bias, so the results should be interpreted with caution.
- The trials did not provide enough information on pain score changes or endometriosis type to draw firmer conclusions.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Authors work at
- Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia
The paper
- Title
- Vitamin C and E antioxidant supplementation may significantly reduce pain symptoms in endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Bayu P, Wibisono JJ (2024). Vitamin C and E antioxidant supplementation may significantly reduce pain symptoms in endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PloS one. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0301867Free full textPubMed 38820340DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error