Effects of cocoa-enriched diet on orofacial pain in a murine model

Structured Abstract ObjectivesTo investigate and discuss the effects of cocoa on orofacial pain. Setting and Sample PopulationThe Department of Orthodontics at the University of Florida (UF). Male and female hairless rats (N=20/group) were tested. Materials and MethodsRats were tested using the Orofacial Pain Assessment Device (OPAD) before and after changing their food from the standard chow to a cocoa-enriched or control-equivalent diet. ResultsMale rats fed the cocoa diet had a significantly higher operant pain index when tested at 37 degrees C as compared to control diet-fed animals. Female rats on the cocoa diet had a significantly higher pain index when tested at 18 degrees C and 44 degrees C, as compared to animals fed the control diet. Capsaicin-induced pain was inhibited, with cocoa-diet male rats having a significantly higher pain index than control-diet male rats and cocoa-diet female rats at both 37 degrees C and 44 degrees C. Cocoa-diet female rats had a significantly higher pain index at 44 degrees C than control-diet females. Mechanical sensitivity was affected following capsaicin cream, with a significantly decreased tolerated bottle distance in both cocoa- and control-diet animals, but there was no difference between cocoa- and control-diet groups. ConclusionUsing the OPAD operant system, we demonstrated that a diet rich in cocoa was effective in inhibiting neurogenic inflammatory pain in rats. This has implications for the use of novel alternative therapies such as diet modification for pain control.