Effects of thickened carbonated cola in older patients with dysphagia

Abstract

Carbonated beverages initiate the swallowing reflex earlier than water and have a shorter pharyngeal transit time. However, the effects of carbonation in thickened beverages of the same flavor on swallowing dynamics have not been reported. Therefore, we investigated the effects of thickened carbonated beverages on swallowing in patients with dysphagia by comparing the swallowing dynamics between thickened carbonated and thickened non-carbonated beverages. We enrolled 38 patients with dysphagia and divided them into two groups. Thickened carbonated and thickened non-carbonated beverages were used. Videoendoscopic swallowing evaluations were performed. Aspiration, penetration, pharyngeal residue, and initiation position of the swallowing reflex were evaluated. The reduction in the amount of residue in both the vallecula (p = 0.007) and pyriform sinus (p = 0.004) was greater after ingestion of thickened carbonated cola than thickened non-carbonated cola. The onset of the swallowing reflex was significantly earlier after ingestion of thickened carbonated cola than thickened non-carbonated cola (p = 0.007). There were no significant differences in the extent of penetration. Thickened carbonated beverages positively affected swallowing compared with thickened non-carbonated beverages. Thus, the use of thickened carbonated beverages may be helpful for patients with dysphagia.

The importance of taste on swallowing function

“…Furthermore, carbonated water is less likely to be aspirated or left in the pharynx than non-carbonated liquids in patients with central nervous system disease (51,52). We and other laboratories have reported that thickened carbonic acid further improves swallowing function (53,54).…”

Rheology for Safe Swallowing 3

“…to decrease both the penetration and aspiration compared with noncarbonated thin liquids (NCTL) in the examination of oropharyngeal swallowing in 17 adults with pharyngeal delay 337) , the effects of carbonation in thickened beverages of the same flavor on swallowing dynamics have not been reported. This was studied for 38 dysphagia patients 338) . The residue in vallecula and pyriform sinus were found reduced by CTL cola than by NCTL cola.…”

“…The onset of the swallowing reflex was significantly earlier in the group of CTL than in the group of NTCL. Saiki et al 338) concluded that CTL cola was more beneficial for dysphagia patients than NTCL. Similar conclusions were reported [339][340][341] .…”