Endometriosis affects approximately 190 million people worldwide and is characterised by endometrial-like tissue growing outside the uterus. Despite its prevalence, treatment options remain limited. DCA has emerged as a genuinely promising research avenue.

The scientific rationale comes from a key observation: endometriotic lesions exhibit the Warburg effect. Like cancer cells, endometriotic tissue preferentially uses aerobic glycolysis — producing lactate even in the presence of oxygen. This metabolic phenotype drives lesion survival, proliferation, and immune evasion. DCA, by reactivating mitochondrial metabolism through PDK inhibition, directly targets this phenotype.

The EPiC (Endometriosis: Pelvic pain Intervention with DCA) trial, conducted at Oxford, represents the strongest human evidence to date. In this pilot study, participants receiving oral DCA reported a 79% reduction in pelvic pain scores. The trial has driven significant interest in DCA as a potential disease-modifying treatment for endometriosis — not merely symptom management.

Preclinical studies in mouse models of endometriosis have shown DCA reduces lesion size and weight, reduces inflammatory markers, and promotes lesion cell apoptosis.

Larger trials are ongoing. DCA is not an approved treatment for endometriosis. The EPiC results are promising but preliminary.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. AuraDCA products are intended for research use only.