A Liquid Thickener Presentation Format for the Therapeutic Management of Dysphagia-A Promising Step Forward in Addressing the Challenges Associated With Thickened Fluids in Swallowing Disorders?
Natascha Ullrich, Brenda Mossel, Sue Pownall and 4 others
PMID 41449751WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with swallowing difficulties rated drinks thickened with a new liquid concentrate as significantly more pleasant and easier to use than their usual powdered thickener.
They drank more fluid on average and reported fewer gastrointestinal symptoms, though the study was small and short.
Key findings
01Drinks thickened with the liquid concentrate scored higher than powdered thickener on all sensory attributes, including taste, texture and overall pleasantness.
02Average daily fluid intake was higher with the liquid thickener (1.35L) than with the powdered thickener (1.21L).
03Gastrointestinal symptoms were less frequent and less severe with the liquid thickener, with no patients vomiting in either phase.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was a feasibility pilot and was not powered to detect treatment effectiveness. The sample size was small (24 participants) and heterogeneous in terms of underlying conditions. The observation periods were unequal (7 days for powder vs 14 days for liquid), which may affect direct comparison. Data were self-reported by patients or carers with limited supervision, introducing potential for response bias or inaccuracy. The specific types of fluids thickened were not recorded, so the effect of different beverage bases on palatability is unknown. The study did not systematically record or analyse outcomes by IDDSI level, so it is unclear if benefits vary by thickness. The 14-day duration may not reflect long-term adherence or taste fatigue. No patients with aphasia were enrolled despite the study's aim to include them, limiting generalisability to that group.
Declared interests
The work was supported by Trisco Foods Pty Ltd. One author, Brenda Mossel, is an employee of Trisco Foods. The sponsor played no role in data collection or analysis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this liquid thickener is clinically superior to powdered alternatives for all patients. The study was a small, short-term feasibility pilot with unequal observation periods and self-reported data, so the results are preliminary and not definitive.
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