Fish-Derived Fats May Boost an Anti-Inflammatory Signal in Women with Endometriosis
This 12-week randomized controlled trial looked at 46 women with confirmed endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the reproductive system. Half followed a standard ‘Healthy Eating Plate’ diet, while the other half followed the same diet plus a fish-derived lipid supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids, alkylglycerols, and squalene.
The main finding was a rise in interleukin-10 (IL-10), a marker linked to regulating and calming immune activity, in the group taking the fish-derived lipids. Other inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and a marker of gut inflammation (fecal calprotectin) showed no consistent changes between groups.
Pain scores improved within both groups over the study, but the fish-derived lipid group was more likely to report a meaningful pain reduction (about 74% vs 35% of participants), though average pain scores between groups didn’t differ significantly. Quality-of-life scores related to pain also improved in both groups without a clear advantage for the supplement.
What this means for you
This small, short-term study suggests fish-derived lipids might support a helpful immune regulatory response and could be linked to a higher chance of noticing pain improvement in women with endometriosis, but the researchers were cautious about these results and called for larger, longer studies before drawing firm conclusions.
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Start the ALP ProtocolThis summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement routine.