Consuming extra virgin olive oil reduces menstrual pain and improves the well-being of women with endometriosis.

PalmWomen with endometriosis who follow a Mediterranean diet enriched with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) experience a 14.3% improvement in menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). This was revealed by the ENDO-DIET clinical study, sponsored by Son Espases University Hospital, the Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa), and the Regulatory Council of the Oli de Mallorca Designation of Origin. The study presented its initial preliminary results and signed a renewal agreement this week.

In addition, the study indicates that more than 50% of participants in the intervention group reported an improvement in their quality of life of more than 20%. Improvements were also observed in other types of pain, such as chronic pelvic pain and pain during defecation (dyschezia), as well as a slight reduction in inflammatory markers in the blood. The study is currently in the final phase of patient recruitment, and the results will be confirmed with the final analysis once completed.

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. It occurs when endometrial-like tissue, which lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation, intense pain, and, in many cases, fertility problems. Despite its high prevalence, diagnosis is often delayed and current treatments are not always effective. Therefore, the ENDO-DIET study explores an innovative avenue: the role of nutrition, and specifically extra virgin olive oil, as a potential therapeutic tool thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

This week, the collaboration agreement supporting the study was renewed with the signing of a new agreement between the manager of IdISBa, Carlos Enrique Herrero; Dr. Pia Español, from the Benign Gynecology Unit of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Son Espases University Hospital; and the president of the Regulatory Council of the DO Aceite de Mallorca, Joan Mayol Serra.

60 liters of olive oil

In this expansion, the DO Oli de Mallorca is committed to providing 60 liters of extra virgin olive oil free of charge, packaged in five-liter bottles, for the exclusive use of patients participating in the study. The product will be delivered in January 2026 to the Gynecology Department of Son Espases University Hospital. The agreement will last one year and includes public dissemination of this collaboration in all project communications.

The ENDO-DIET project was launched in December 2022 with the signing of an agreement between IdISBa and the DO Aceite de Mallorca, which provided 400 liters of extra virgin olive oil for the research. The initiative was publicly presented as a pioneering effort to study how the natural antioxidants in olive oil could help reduce inflammation and improve patients' quality of life. The study, conducted in collaboration with Son Espases University Hospital and the Multidisciplinary Translational Oncology Group at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), represents an example of synergy between science, healthcare, and local products.