Can Diet and Lifestyle Reduce the Risk of Uterine Fibroids?

The Science of Nutrition & Fibroids

• Comprehensive Review on Nutrition: A 2025 review published by the NIH explores the clinical impact of nutritional factors on uterine fibroids. It examines how different dietary patterns, such as high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fiber, may offer protective benefits, while diets rich in red meat and saturated fats could increase risk . (See Here)

• Vitamin D & Supplementation:

  • A 2024 meta-analysis on ScienceDirect consolidates evidence on Vitamin D, concluding that supplementation is associated with a reduction in fibroid size and that women with fibroids are more likely to have a Vitamin D deficiency . (See Here)

  • Research from Johns Hopkins University details the potential of Vitamin D and green tea extract (EGCG) for treating fibroids . (see Here)

• Lifestyle Intervention Programs:

  • A pilot study on the "LIFE Program" (Diet, Nutrition, and Supplement Program) showed it may help prevent fibroid recurrence . (See Here)

  • Another clinical trial found that a 12-month nutrition and exercise regimen significantly improved quality of life and reduced symptom severity in patients after surgical treatment .(See Here)

• Broad Dietary Studies: A 2025 Mendelian Randomization study published in BMC Women's Health provides evidence of a causal link between specific dietary factors (e.g., coffee and dried fruit) and the risk of developing uterine fibroids . (See Here)

Nigerian Context for Nigerian Women

• Prevalence & Knowledge in Nigeria: A 2025 study conducted at Abia State University Teaching Hospital found a 26.9% prevalence of uterine fibroids among participants, with many demonstrating suboptimal knowledge of the condition. Age, BMI, contraceptive use, and family history were identified as key factors . (See Here)

• Healthcare-Seeking Behavior: Another study from Lagos, Nigeria, revealed that a significant number of women (56.6%) use complementary and alternative treatments for fibroids, often delaying orthodox care. This highlights the need for better health education . (See Here)

• Risk of Late Presentation: Research from urban Nigeria indicates that nearly two-thirds of women with symptomatic fibroids present late for diagnosis, often after six months or more of symptoms. Late presentation was significantly associated with the need for surgical treatment . (See Here)

📚 Key Research Summaries

• The LIFE UP Awareness Strategy: A 2024 review introduces a management strategy called "LIFE UP" (Lifestyle Interventions, Food Modifications, and Environmental Practices for UF Prevention), emphasizing that these safe and accessible measures hold the potential to prevent fibroids .(See Here) 

• Vitamin D & Risk Reduction: Another study found that higher levels of Vitamin D are associated with a reduced risk of uterine fibroids, with the odds of developing fibroids decreasing by 3% per unit increase in Vitamin D level .(See Here)