The Research Gap
It probably is no surprise to many of you that just like the fiber gap, we have some serious research gaps on our hands. Women’s health has been historically underfunded and understudied, leaving important questions about conditions like endometriosis unanswered. There also has been a research gap around the role the microbiome plays in whole-body health. It is at this intersection, of women’s health and microbiome research, that inspired the design of this landmark study, TEND (Trial Evaluating Nutritional fiber in Digestive symptoms of endometriosis).
What is endometriosis?
Nearly 1 in 10 women live with endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition where endometrial tissue of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. This condition leads to a number of debilitating symptoms including severe pain during menstruation and chronic pelvic pain. The inflammation associated with the disease can also have systemic impacts, and digestive side effects such as abdominal bloating and nausea are common. Because of a lack of education and the wide range of symptoms, diagnosis of endometriosis often takes a long time, with the average between 5 and 8 years in the United States. By some estimates, roughly 60% of cases are undiagnosed.
As the condition is estrogen-dependent, meaning that estrogen plays a role in the growth of this tissue, much of the treatment regime is focused around hormonal medicines. Additionally surgery is often used to manage pain and fertility issues. Ultimately, the condition can not be cured, but rather is managed through a range of strategies. That makes continued research into potential ways to support people living with endometriosis especially important.
How does fiber factor in?
Dietary fiber intake can not only help to decrease estrogen levels in the blood, but reduce inflammation through the generation of beneficial metabolites like short chain fatty acids. Dietary fiber can lower circulating estrogen through two mechanisms. The first is binding to estrogen in the intestines, where it is removed with bowel movements instead of being reabsorbed in the blood. The second is that soluble, fermentable sources of fiber can cause changes in the composition of the gut microbiome that can impact estrogen metabolism. As a result of these broad impacts, increasing dietary fiber could both help ameliorate the side effects of endometriosis and potentially impact the progression of the disease.
What is LOAM doing about it?
Endometriosis is a chronically understudied disease, and the impact of fiber needs to be further understood. At LOAM, we believe in the science of fiber which is why we are launching a first-of-its-kind, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, TEND (Trial Evaluating Nutritional fiber in Digestive symptoms of endometriosis), to determine the impact of adding more fiber (through LOAM, our 6-in-1 fiber formula) to the diet of endometriosis patients.
Join our endometriosis study and help further science and research!
This trial is in the very important recruiting stage. If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis, you may be eligible to join our clinical study to support research on women’s reproductive health.
Learn about and participate in our study here.
References
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Czerniak, J., Ciebiera, M., Zeber-Lubecka, N., & Olcha, P. (2026). Dietary Fiber in Endometriosis: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Potential Clinical Benefits-Up-to-Date Review. Nutrients, 18(4), 690. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040690
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De Corte, P., Klinghardt, M., von Stockum, S., & Heinemann, K. (2025). Time to Diagnose Endometriosis: Current Status, Challenges and Regional Characteristics-A Systematic Literature Review. BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 132(2), 118–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17973
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Farenga, E., Bulfon, M., Dalla Zonca, C., Tersar, C., Ricci, G., Di Lorenzo, G., & Clarici, A. (2024). A Psychological Point of View on Endometriosis and Quality of Life: A Narrative Review. Journal of personalized medicine, 14(5), 466. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14050466
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Fryer, J., Mason-Jones, A. J., & Woodward, A. (2025). Understanding diagnostic delay for endometriosis: A scoping review using the social-ecological framework. Health Care for Women International, 46(3), 335–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2024.2413056
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Warren, A., Garrett, K., & Frame, L. A. (2025). Disparities in women's health and clinical considerations from a translational science perspective: A narrative review and framework for future directions. Women's health (London, England), 21, 17455057251399009. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057251399009
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World Health Organization. (2025, October 15). Endometriosis. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/endometriosis
