Nutrition in Gynecological Diseases: Current Perspectives

Abstract

Diet and nutrition are fundamental in maintaining the general health of populations, including women's health. Health status can be affected by nutrient deficiency and vice versa. Gene-nutrient interactions are important contributors to health management and disease prevention. Nutrition can alter gene expression, as well as the susceptibility to diseases, including cancer, through several mechanisms. Gynecological diseases in general are diseases involving the female reproductive system and include benign and malignant tumors, infections, and endocrine diseases. Benign diseases such as uterine fibroids and endometriosis are common, with a negative impact on women's quality of life, while malignant tumors are among the most common cause of death in the recent years. In this comprehensive review article, a bibliographic search was performed for retrieving information about nutrients and how their deficiencies can be associated with gynecological diseases, namely polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, and infections, as well as cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Moreover, we discussed the potential beneficial impact of promising natural compounds and dietary supplements on alleviating these significant diseases.

Keywords: PCOS; cervical cancer; complementary and alternative medicine; diet; dysmenorrhea; endometrial cancer; endometriosis; gynecological diseases; infection; infertility; microbiome; nutrients; nutrition; ovarian cancer; uterine fibroids.

Figure 1

Impact of diet on the vaginal microbiome. A diet deficient in vitamins A, C, D, and E, calcium, folate, and beta-carotene but loaded with fats and sugar leads to altering the vaginal microbiota and increase susceptibility to infections causing bacterial vaginosis, which are associated with preterm birth, raising the risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.