The purpose of this study was to determine if the type of thickening agent used in beverages would exhibit a difference in acceptability based on the milliliters of beverage consumed. This study was an experimental design, comparing the typical fluid intake of the standard beverages provided at the facility to the fluid intake of three different beverage thickeners. Each treatment was administered separately over the course of five days. Twenty subjects with a diagnosis of dysphagia and a diet order of nectar-like thickened beverages were recruited at a Midwestern long term care facility. Data were analyzed using Friedman’s analysis of variance for ranks. When a significant difference was found among the sample mean ranks, the Wilcoxon test was used to determine which means were different. Significance was set at p≤0.008.

Results from this study determined that significant differences existed between two beverage thickeners used in 2% milk only. Friedman’s analysis of variance determined a difference among milk groups, χ²(3, N=17)=13.73, p=0.003. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test demonstrated a significant difference between the pre-thickened individually portioned milk and milk thickened with xanthan gum, Z(N=17) = −3.053, p=0.002. That is, the xanthan gum based thickener was preferred over the control: individually packaged Resource^® Dairy Thick Vanilla flavored 2% milk, as evidenced by fluid intake. Another significant difference was found between the control week and milk thickened with modified corn starch, Z(N=17) = −2.675, p=0.007. That is, the corn starch based product was preferred over the control, the pre-thickened individually portioned product, as evidenced by fluid intake.