Posted on 07/13/2005 1:35:31 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Yesenia Lopez was 12 when she developed endometriosis, a chronic condition caused when uterine tissue grows outside the uterus. So the now mother of two volunteered for a study testing two antioxidants, vitamin E and vitamin C, to see if she could finally get some relief.
"There was the belief that endometriosis causes quite a bit of damage in the pelvis and is almost like an oxidant. So the thought was what if one uses an antioxidant? And vitamins are known to have some antioxidant capacities," said Dr. Celia Dominguez of Emory University.
Fifty-nine women enrolled in the two-month pilot study. Half took higher than normal doses of vitamin C and E, the others got a placebo. Yesenia was in the vitamin group.
"Immediately, I started to feel my back more relaxed, less pain and more ease in movements in carrying heavy things," she said.
After two months, chronic, everyday pain improved by 43 percent in women taking vitamins, while the placebo group had no improvement. The vitamin group also had reduced menstrual pain by 37 percent, while pain with intercourse decreased by 24 percent.
"What we were looking at is not only looking at the pain parameters, but looking at how the pills or the placebos modified the internal environment of where the endometriosis was present," said Dr. Dominguez.
Although the results are encouraging, Dr. Dominguez points out that this was only a small study.
More research needs to be done and she cautions women to talk to their doctors before taking large doses of any vitamins since they can be harmful.
you don't say?
But aren't they illegal in the EU?
But they don't work for those that can't take them in the EU.
Only illegal without a prescription.....
NeverGore :^)
I don't know about endometriosis but large doses of Vit C has stopped my torn rotator cuff pain. It is remarkable. Google pain/Vitamin C. There's lots of info. I'm a believer.
Combine with a mostly vegetarian diet, and a person will probably get better results.
Very rare instances. Besides a health lifestyle will do nothing but improve one's ability to deal with the illness.
Vitamin C is very good for that. It's anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.
Worked.
This is strictly anecdotal. My wife went to work for an engineering company where the programmers worked right next to the machine shop. Because of the machine shop, she was always breathing chemicals that made her feel sick. After a while, she came down with painful endometriosis. Nothing seemed to work until she changed jobs and started working in a healthier environment. Then the problem magically disappeared.
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