Nutritional products to promote safe swallowing for individuals with dysphagia

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017196250-A1
Application number	US-201515327745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

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.

First claim

What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims:

1 . A nutritional product comprising:
an aqueous solution comprising beta-glucan in a concentration of from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % capable of providing to the nutritional product: a shear viscosity of less than 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , and a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of more than 10 ms (milliseconds) at a temperature of 20° C.

2 . The nutritional product of claim 1 , comprising a shear viscosity of between 100 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 .

3 . The nutritional product of claim 1 , comprising a shear viscosity selected from the group consisting of from 125 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , a shear viscosity from 150 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , and a shear viscosity from 110 to 160 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 .

4 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 , wherein the relaxation time is less than 2000 ms at a temperature of 20° C.

5 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 , wherein a filament diameter of the nutritional product decreases less than linearly in time during the CaBER experiment.

6 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 , wherein the beta-glucan is present in a concentration of from at least 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %.

7 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 in diluted form.

8 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 comprising at least one component selected from the group consisting of a protein, a source of fat, at least one fiber, a source of carbohydrate, a prebiotic, a probiotic, an amino acid, a fatty acid, a phytonutrient, an antioxidant, and combinations thereof.

9 . The nutritional product according to claim 1 , wherein the nutritional product is in an administrable form selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical formulations, nutritional formulations, dietary supplements, functional food and beverage products, and combinations thereof.

10 . A method for treating a swallowing disorder in a patient in need of such treatment comprising administering a composition comprising: an aqueous solution comprising beta-glucan in a concentration of from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % capable of providing to the nutritional product: a shear viscosity of less than 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , and a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of more than 10 ms (milliseconds) at a temperature of 20° C.

11 . Method according to claim 10 for promoting safe swallowing of nutritional products in a patient in need of same.

12 . Method according to claim 10 , for mitigating the risks of aspiration during swallowing of nutritional products in a patient in need of same.

13 . A method for making a nutritional product, the method comprising providing an aqueous solution comprising beta-glucan in a concentration of from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % capable of providing to the nutritional product:
a shear viscosity of less than 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , and a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of more than 10 ms (milliseconds) at a temperature of 20° C.

14 . Method of claim 13 comprising improving the cohesiveness of a nutritional product.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the shear viscosity is selected from the group consisting of between 100 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , or from 125 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , or from 150 to 200 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 , and from 110 to 160 mPas when measured at a shear rate of 50 s −1 .

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the relaxation time is less than 2000 ms at a temperature of 20° C.

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein a filament diameter of the nutritional product decreases less than linearly during the CaBER experiment.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the beta-glucan is present in a concentration of from at least 0.01 wt % to 10 wt %.

19 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the nutritional product is in diluted form.

20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the nutritional product is provided in an administrable form selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical formulations, nutritional formulations, dietary supplements, functional food and beverage products, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Popa Nita Simina Florentina
• Engmann Jan
• Burbidge Adam
• Ramaioli Marco

Classifications

• A61P1/00

  Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• A23L29/271

  Curdlan; beta-1-3 glucan; Polysaccharides produced by agrobacterium or alcaligenes · CPC title

• A23L33/40 Primary

  Complete food formulations for specific consumer groups or specific purposes, e.g. infant formula · CPC title

• A23L33/10

  using additives (addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21) · CPC title