Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38628187›Full record

ArticleFood science & nutrition2024

The viscosity-enhancing effect of carob bean gum and sodium carboxymethylcellulose when added to infant formula.

Kyara Baert, Mathieu Ombecq, Myriam Van Winckel, Silke Henry, Eline Tommelein, Valérie Vanhoorne

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Food science & nutrition, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Starch-based thickening in infant formula:Frontiers in nutrition · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Kyara BaertLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics Ghent University Ghent Belgium.
Mathieu OmbecqLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics Ghent University Ghent Belgium.
Myriam Van WinckelDepartment of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Ghent University Ghent Belgium.
Silke HenryLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics Ghent University Ghent Belgium.
Eline TommeleinDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Vrije Universiteit Brussel Jette Belgium.
Valérie VanhoorneLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics Ghent University Ghent Belgium.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4249-3408
Ghent University · BEGhent University Hospital · BEVrije Universiteit Brussel · BE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Despite limited supporting evidence, the practice of thickening breast milk or infant formula with commercially available thickening agents is prevalent. This study explored the viscosity-enhancing impact of carob bean gum (CBG) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) when added to infant formula at various concentrations and for different thickening durations. The findings indicate that thickening leads to an exponential increase in milk viscosity, from 25% of the recommended dosage onward. This suggests that minor adjustments in dosage can significantly impact formula thickness, underscoring the importance of accurately dosing and preparing infant milk. The considerable variability in viscosity also emphasizes the need for thoughtful selection of teat size, considering the energy expenditure of the sucking infant. When using 50% of the recommended CBG dose or 25% of NaCMC, the resulting viscosity matches that of a commercially available casein-based formula containing CBG for anti-regurgitation. In the case of CBG, a viscosity plateau is only reached after 30 min. Therefore, educating parents on the correct handling and preparation steps for CBG-thickened infant milk is crucial, including a 30-min waiting period to achieve the intended thickening effect.

Indexed as

gastro‐esophageal refluxgastro‐esophageal reflux diseaseinfant formulapediatricsthickening agentsviscosity

Identifiers

PMID38628187
PMCPMC11016439
OpenAlexW4390825247

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.