Testing and Development of Slightly Thick Infant Formula Recipes for Dysphagia Management: An Australian Perspective.
Jeanne Marshall, Jordyn Buttsworth, Hannah D S Grandt and 4 others
PMID 36637506WHAT IT FOUND
Thickened infant formula is highly variable.
Aptamil thickener recipes reached the correct consistency after 10 to 15 minutes, while Supercol recipes varied widely and blocked syringes. Wait at least 10 minutes after mixing and always flow test before feeding.
Key findings
01Aptamil Feed Thickener recipes reached Level 1 thickness between 6 and 10 minutes, but showed medium to very high variability until the 15-minute mark.
02Supercol recipes reached ideal thickness between 1 and 11 minutes but showed very high variability at 5 minutes, and blocked the syringe on 17 occasions.
03Most formula/thickener combinations remained at Level 1 thickness after 12 hours of refrigeration and reheating, except for S-26 Original Newborn and Infatrini with Aptamil thickener.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study used the IDDSI Flow Test rather than a rheometer, which is the recommended tool for examining thickened fluid properties. Measurements were taken visually by the experimenter, introducing potential human error in timing and reading. Temperature was monitored but not continuously controlled, which may have affected thickness. The study tested samples at room temperature, which may not reflect all feeding conditions. Recipes are not linear and cannot be simply halved or doubled for different volumes.
Declared interests
No specific conflicts of interest or funding declarations were provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a formula/thickener combination is safe to feed immediately after mixing. The study showed high variability in thickness during the first 10 to 15 minutes, meaning the fluid could be too thin or too thick if not tested at the bedside.