Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36578019›Full record

SynthesisReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2022

Effects of vitamin D supplementation in endometriosis: a systematic review.

Dimitrios Rafail Kalaitzopoulos, Nicolas Samartzis, Angelos Daniilidis, Brigitte Leeners, Sofia Makieva, Konstantinos Nirgianakis, Ioannis Dedes, Julian Matthias Metzler, Patrick Imesch, Ioannis G Lempesis

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
6.3field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 37 citations in OpenAlex.

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  8. Article
  9. Endometriosis: An Immunologist's Perspective.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Dimitrios Rafail KalaitzopoulosDepartment of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland. dimkal1991@windowslive.com.
Nicolas SamartzisDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cantonal Hospital Schaffhausen, Geissbergstrasse 81, 8208, Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Angelos DaniilidisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2Nd University, Hippokratio General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Brigitte LeenersDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland.
Sofia MakievaDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland.
Konstantinos NirgianakisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 19, 3010, Bern, Switzerland.
Ioannis DedesDepartment of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland.
Julian Matthias MetzlerDepartment of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland.
Patrick ImeschDepartment of Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstr. 10, 8091, Zurich, CH, Switzerland.
Ioannis G LempesisCollege of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
University Hospital of Zurich · CHAristotle University of Thessaloniki · GRSpitäler Schaffhausen · CHUniversity Hospital of Bern · CHUniversity of Birmingham · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is a growing body of human, animal and in vitro studies on vitamin D (vit D) substitution in endometriosis. The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise and qualitatively synthesize the results of the available studies that examine the supplementation of vit D for endometriosis treatment.

methodsA systematic search of the literature was conducted in four electronic databases (Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase) and grey literature for original research articles on humans, animals and in vitro models published in any language.

resultsFour human studies, four animal studies and four in vitro studies were included. Quantitative synthesis of human studies showed no significant effect of vit D intake for dysmenorrhea (2 studies, 44 vit D vs 44 placebo, mean -0.71, 95% CI -1.94, 0.51) and non-cyclic pelvic pain (2 studies, 42 vit D vs 38 placebo, mean 0.34, 95% CI -0.02, 0.71). Regarding reproductive outcomes in women with endometriosis after in vitro fertilization, the only available study showed no differences between women taking vit D and women taking placebo. Three of the four included animal studies showed regression of endometriotic implants when treated with vit D. The in vitro studies demonstrated that vit D decreases invasion and proliferation of endometriotic lesions without affecting apoptosis.

conclusionsAlthough in vitro and animal studies suggest regression of the endometriotic implants and decrease of invasion and proliferation after vit D supplementation, this was not reflected in the results of the meta-analysis, which showed no benefit of vit D supplementation in patients with endometriosis and dysmenorrhea or non-cyclic pelvic pain as well as on the outcome of IVF treatment. However, given the heterogeneity and the diversity of the available studies, more research is required to shed light on the role of vit D supplementation in women with endometriosis.

Indexed as

EndometriosisAnimalsDietary SupplementsDysmenorrheaFemaleHumansPelvic PainVitamin DVitaminsVitamin DVitamins1,25(OH)2D25(OH)D25(ΟΗ)D3EndometriosisSupplementationVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID36578019
PMCPMC9795583
OpenAlexW4313339977

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.