4. Discussion
pain, dysmenorrhea, dark chocolate
VASODILATION, PRIMARY DYSMENORRHEA, DYSMENORRHEA, MENSTRUAL PAIN
The current study aimed to investigate the comparative effectiveness of three interventions, namely Ibuprofen, dark chocolate, and young coconut water, in reducing menstrual pain intensity in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea. The findings provide valuable insights into the management options for this common condition.The results of the study indicate that Ibuprofen, a gold-standard treatment for primary dysmenorrhea, demonstrated greater effectiveness in reducing menstrual pain intensity compared to both dark chocolate (70% cocoa, 35 g) and young coconut water (330 mL). These findings are consistent with previous research by Corson and Bolognese that established the efficacy of Ibuprofen in managing dysmenorrhea. That study mentioned that Ibuprofen showed significant superiority over both aspirin and placebo, while aspirin did not exhibit significant superiority over placebo [A novel finding of this study is that there was no significant difference in pain reduction between Ibuprofen (400 mg) and dark chocolate (70% cocoa, 35 g). This suggests that dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, may possess pain-relieving properties comparable to Ibuprofen. Previous research has highlighted the potential benefits of dark chocolate in reducing pain, attributed to magnesium and its effects on prostaglandins. Magnesium helps to regulate the production of prostaglandins by inhibiting the enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. Arachidonic acid is an essential fatty acid that is found in the body [In contrast, both Ibuprofen and dark chocolate showed significant differences in pain reduction compared to young coconut water. The disparity in pain reduction may be attributed to the difference in magnesium content between the interventions. Magnesium has been recognized for its role in reducing menstrual pain intensity by inducing vasodilation in blood vessels and relaxing uterine muscles [This study has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, blinding the participants was not feasible due to the differences in intervention characteristics, such as size, formulation, scent, and taste. Second, the study did not address treatment adherence because the data collectors were blinded to the intervention groups. This means that the data collectors did not know which participants were in which intervention group and, therefore, could not collect data on how well participants followed the treatment regimen. This could have affected the results, as participants who did not adhere to the treatment may have experienced different results than those who did. Third, the study only looked at the effects of a single dose of the interventions. It is possible that the effects of the interventions would be different if they were taken for multiple doses or over a longer period of time. Additionally, the study did not employ subject matching, which could have introduced confounding factors. Future studies should consider strategies to overcome these limitations, such as blinding techniques, more rigorous subject matching protocols, and longer treatment periods.In conclusion, the current study provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of Ibuprofen in reducing menstrual pain intensity, as well as suggesting the potential pain-relieving properties of dark chocolate. The significant difference between these interventions and young coconut water highlights the importance of considering magnesium content in dysmenorrhea management. These findings contribute to our understanding of the comparative effectiveness of interventions and provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and individuals seeking management options for primary dysmenorrhea. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the pain-relieving effects of dark chocolate and the role of magnesium in dysmenorrhea management.