Abstract: A liquid thickener composition useful for subjects suffering from a dehydration, mastication and/or deglutination disease, disorder or condition, a container comprising the liquid thickener composition, a system comprising the container and a dispenser, a thickened liquid composition comprising the liquid thickener composition, a method for producing the liquid thickener composition and the thickened liquid composition are provided.

Abstract: Compositions contain an amount of cinnamaldehyde that is orally tolerable, thus avoiding an unpleasant mouth feeling, and also tolerable in the gastrointestinal tract. The amount of cinnamaldehyde is supplemented by zinc, and the combination is effective to promote a swallowing reflex. The composition containing the combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc can be used in a method to treat dysphagia and/or prevent aspiration pneumonia from dysphagia. In an embodiment, the composition containing cinnamaldehyde is administered to a human. The composition containing cinnamaldehyde may be a medicament, a food product or a supplement to a food product.

Abstract: Nutritional products, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional products are disclosed. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

Abstract: Apparatuses for detecting swallowing disorders and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the apparatuses include a disposable sensor base and a sensor that is received by the disposable sensor base. The sensor base includes a sensor interface having a predetermined cut-away shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface. The sensor includes a handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, a support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, and electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor. The apparatuses of the present disclosure can be attached to a patient's neck to detect and/or diagnose swallowing disorders during a swallowing test.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing dehydration in an individual having impaired swallowing such as dysphagia can include administering to the individual having the dysphagia an effective amount of a composition containing a salivating agent and a cooling agent in a weight ratio of 1:0.06 to 1:0.2. Optionally the composition includes a tingling agent. The composition can be a powder that is reconstituted before administration, for example at the point of consumption. A thickening or thin cohesive agent can be included in the powder and/or can be included in a liquid in which the powder is reconstituted. The composition can be a beverage containing the salivating agent and the cooling agent in a total amount of at least 3.0 wt. % of the beverage, for example at least 6.0 wt. % of the beverage. The composition can be a ready-to-drink beverage or a frozen dessert on a stick.

Abstract: Nutritional products, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional products are disclosed. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crunchy edible formulations comprising fibre, protein and a restricted amount of carbohydrate and substantially devoid of fat and sugar. Methods of making said formulations and their use in food products are also provided.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a composition containing a combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc. The composition containing the combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc can be used in a method to support weight management or promote weight loss, a method for preventing obesity or overweight, and a method for treating obesity or overweight. In an embodiment, the composition containing the combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc is administered to a human. The composition may be a medicament, a food product or a supplement.

Abstract: A thickening powder promotes safe swallowing of a nutritional product by an individual with dysphagia and can be used in methods of treating dysphagia, promoting safe swallowing of a nutritional product, and mitigating a risk of aspiration during swallowing of a nutritional product. The powder contains beta-glucan and at least one carrier ingredient in an amount that is neutral toward or enhances the extensional properties of the nutritional product. The at least one carrier ingredient can be one or more of maltodextrin, isomaltulose, sucrose or lactose. The powder can be diluted in a diluent to form an aqueous solution that is at least a portion of a nutritional product and to improve the cohesiveness of the nutritional product.

Abstract: A liquid concentrate formulated for dilution into a nutritional product is disclosed, as well as the resultant nutritional product, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product is prepared by diluting a liquid concentrate of one or more of a beta-glucan, a plant-extracted gum such as okra gum, or a plant-derived mucilage. Preferably, the resultant nutritional product has a shear viscosity greater than 200 mPas and up to about 2,000 mPas, preferably greater than 200 mPas and up to about 500 mPas, more preferably 250 mPas to about 450 mPas, most preferably 250 mPas to about 400 mPas, when measured at a shear rate of 50 s?1 at a temperature of 20° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assessing the characteristics of the swallowing process in a subject a sensor that is capable of detecting vibrations of the throat during swallowing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating a swallowing disorder in a patient suffering from aspiration before, during and/or after the swallowing reflex, and to a bolus for use in the treatment of a swallowing disorder in such a patient.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing dehydration in an individual having impaired swallowing such as dysphagia can include administering to the individual having the dysphagia an effective amount of a composition containing a salivating agent and a cooling agent in a weight ratio of 1:0.06 to 1:0.2. Optionally the composition includes a tingling agent. The composition can be a powder that is reconstituted before administration, for example at the point of consumption. A thickening or thin cohesive agent can be included in the powder and/or can be included in a liquid in which the powder is reconstituted. The composition can be a beverage containing the salivating agent and the cooling agent in a total amount of at least 3.0 wt. % of the beverage, for example at least 6.0 wt. % of the beverage. The composition can be a ready-to-drink beverage or a frozen dessert on a stick.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating a swallowing disorder in a patient suffering from aspiration before, during and/or after the swallowing reflex, and to a bolus for use in the treatment of a swallowing disorder in such a patient.

Abstract: Apparatuses for detecting swallowing disorders and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the apparatuses include a disposable sensor base and a sensor that is received by the disposable sensor base. The sensor base includes a sensor interface having a predetermined cut-away shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface. The sensor includes a handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, a support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, and electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor. The apparatuses of the present disclosure can be attached to a patient's neck to detect and/or diagnose swallowing disorders during a swallowing test.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating a swallowing disorder in a patient suffering from aspiration before, during and/or after the swallowing reflex, and to a bolus for use in the treatment of a swallowing disorder in such a patient.

Abstract: Nutritional products having improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for patients having swallowing conditions are provided as well as methods of making and using such products. The nutritional products may include nutritional compositions and high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers such that the nutritional products have extensional viscosities that provide improved cohesiveness to the nutritional products. Methods of administering such nutritional products to patients having impaired swallowing ability and/or dysphagia are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses for detecting swallowing disorders and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the apparatuses include a disposable sensor base and a sensor that is received by the disposable sensor base. The sensor base includes a sensor interface having a predetermined cut-away shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface. The sensor includes a handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, a support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, and electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor. The apparatuses of the present disclosure can be attached to a patient's neck to detect and/or diagnose swallowing disorders during a swallowing test.

Abstract: Compositions contain an amount of cinnamaldehyde that is orally tolerable, thus avoiding an unpleasant mouth feeling, and also tolerable in the gastrointestinal tract. The amount of cinnamaldehyde is supplemented by zinc, and the combination is effective to promote a swallowing reflex. The composition containing the combination of cinnamaldehyde and zinc can be used in a method to treat dysphagia and/or prevent aspiration pneumonia from dysphagia. In an embodiment, the composition containing cinnamaldehyde is administered to a human. The composition containing cinnamaldehyde may be a medicament, a food product or a supplement to a food product.

Abstract: A method for selecting a food product for a subject having dysphagia comprising: (a) administering one or more food products comprising a volatile compound to the subject; (b) detecting release of the volatile compound in exhaled breath of the subject during and/or after swallowing of the one or more food products; (c) selecting the food product based on the release of the volatile compound in exhaled breath of the subject.