NCT05971186

Dark Chocolate, Coconut Water, and Ibuprofen in Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea

Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial: Comparative Efficacy of Dark Chocolate, Coconut Water, and Ibuprofen in Managing Primary Dysmenorrhea

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (actual)
• Sponsor: Universitas Padjadjaran · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 17 Years – 24 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Dysmenorrhea, the painful condition experienced by women during menstruation, affects a significant proportion of women worldwide and often leads to decreased productivity. Various pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available for pain relief, but information on their effectiveness, particularly regarding green coconut water, dark chocolate, and Ibuprofen, remains limited. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of green coconut water, dark chocolate bars, and Ibuprofen in reducing the intensity of primary dysmenorrhea. A randomized controlled trial with a quantitative design was conducted, involving 45 participants randomly assigned to receive either 330 ml of green coconut water, 35 grams of 70% dark chocolate, or 400 mg Ibuprofen. Pain intensity was measured before and after treatment.

Detailed description

Dysmenorrhea, commonly known as period pain, is a prevalent condition that affects a large number of women during menstruation, causing discomfort and often leading to reduced productivity. While several treatments are available to alleviate the pain, there is limited information on the comparative effectiveness of different interventions, including green coconut water, dark chocolate, and Ibuprofen. This research aimed to conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of green coconut water, dark chocolate bars, and Ibuprofen in managing primary dysmenorrhea. A total of 45 participants were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: green coconut water, dark chocolate bars, or Ibuprofen. The green coconut water group received 330 ml of pure green coconut water, which is known for its potential health benefits and natural electrolyte content. The dark chocolate group received 35 grams of 70% dark chocolate, as some studies have suggested its potential role in pain relief due to the presence of bioactive compounds. The Ibuprofen group received 400 mg of the common over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known for its analgesic properties. To assess the effectiveness of each intervention, pain intensity was measured before and after treatment using validated pain scales. The Kruskal-Wallis test, a non-parametric statistical method, was used to analyze the data and compare the effectiveness of the three interventions.

Conditions

• Dysmenorrhea Primary
• Menstrual Pain
• Ibuprofen

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Ibuprofen 400 mg	Dosage Form: Tablet Dosage: 1 tablet of Ibuprofen (400 mg) Frequency: One-time consumption Duration: Pain intensity measured before consumption and two hours after consumption
OTHER	Young Coconut Water	Dosage Form: Liquid (coconut water) Dosage: 330 ml (milliliters) of young coconut water Frequency: One-time consumption Duration: Pain intensity measured before consumption and two hours after consumption.
OTHER	Dark Chocolate Bar	Dosage Form: Solid (dark chocolate bar) Dosage: 35 grams of 70% dark chocolate Frequency: One-time consumption Duration: Pain intensity measured before consumption and two hours after consumption.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-06-30
• Primary completion: 2022-08-15
• Completion: 2022-08-15
• First posted: 2023-08-02
• Last updated: 2023-08-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Indonesia