title: Selected food intake and risk of endometriosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To offer data on the relationship between diet and risk of pelvic endometriosis, we analysed data collected in the framework of two case-control studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from two case-control studies conducted in Northern Italy between 1984 and 1999 were combined. Cases were 504 women aged < 65 years (median age 33 years, range 20-65) with a laparoscopically confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, admitted to a network of obstetrics and gynaecology departments in Milan, Brescia and Pavia. Controls were 504 women (median age 34 years, range 20-61) admitted for acute non-gynaecological, non-hormonal, non-neoplastic conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to women in the lowest tertile of intake, a significant reduction in risk emerged for higher intake of green vegetables [odds ratio (OR) = 0.3 for the highest tertile of intake] and fresh fruit (OR = 0.6), whereas an increase in risk was associated with high intake of beef and other red meat (OR = 2.0) and ham (OR = 1.8). Consumption of milk, liver, carrots, cheese, fish and whole-grain foods, as well as coffee and alcohol consumption, were not significantly related to endometriosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests a link between diet and risk of endometriosis.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', 20157 Milano, Clinica Ostetrico Ginecologica, Università di Milano, 20122 Milano and Studi di via Fontana, 20122 Milano, Italy. parazzini@marionegri.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parazzini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiaffarino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chatenoud
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chiantera
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004435:Eating; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008460:Meat; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D014675:Vegetables