The Validity of Simplythick® in Commonly Used Pediatric Beverages
Authors: Greta Dembroski, Katlyn Elizabeth McGrattan, PhD
Background: Dysphagia is characterized by difficulty swallowing and is prevalent in pediatric and adult populations. The provision of thickened liquids is a leading treatment to improve swallowing function. Simplythick® is a commonly used commercial thickener suitable for individuals above the age of one. Little is known regarding the validity of Simplythick® in commonly used pediatric beverages of various viscosities. This investigation seeks to examine the reliability of Simplythick® as a thickening agent among cow’s milk, orange juice, and apple juice.
Methods: Cow’s milk, orange juice, and apple juice were thickened with Simplythick® using manufacturer provided recipes. Liquid thickness was determined using International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) flow testing. Each condition underwent testing every 10 minutes for 60 minutes following thickening to simulate a typical meal time.
Results: Simplythick® recipes met corresponding IDDSI thickness level criteria for all beverages in the moderately thick classification. While recipes in orange juice and apple juice were valid against the mildly thick classification, results varied between skim and 2% milk. In all beverages except apple juice, recipes exceeded desired thickness levels in the slightly thick classification.
Conclusions: The validity of Simplythick® and the associated manufacturer provided recipes are variable across beverages. In all cases, Simplythick® met desired thickness levels but often exceeded corresponding IDDSI classifications. Future investigations examining the effects of beverage temperature are warranted to enable the provision of effective thickening interventions in pediatric populations.