Peer-reviewed article
The nutrition profile and utility of banana puree as a liquid thickener for medically complex infants with dysphagia.
Kristin Brinker, Lauren Winn, Anne E Woodbury, Amara Finch, Michelle Taggart et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study tested whether banana puree can be used as a thickening agent for feeds given to hospitalized infants with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). Researchers mixed banana puree with infant formula and breast milk to find the right amounts needed to achieve different thickness levels. The analysis showed that banana puree works well as a thickener but should not exceed 15% of feed volume to avoid giving infants too much potassium. The findings suggest banana puree could help these infants feed safely by mouth and leave hospital sooner.
Key points
- Banana puree successfully achieved multiple thickness levels (IDDSI Levels 1-3) when mixed with infant formulas and human milk
- Different volumes of banana puree were needed depending on the type of milk and caloric concentration
- Nutrition analysis showed banana puree should be limited to 15% of total feeding volume to prevent excessive potassium intake
- The approach could facilitate safe oral feeding opportunities and accelerate introduction of oral feeding in infants with dysphagia
- Further research is needed to compare outcomes with traditional thickening agents
Limitations
This study is a laboratory investigation of the feasibility and nutritional composition of banana puree as a thickener; it does not evaluate the intervention in actual patients, so we cannot determine its clinical effectiveness, impact on feeding progression, hospital stay duration, growth outcomes, or safety in real-world use.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Dysphagia among infants, particularly high-risk and preterm neonates, poses feeding challenges that can impact multiple systemic outcomes and delay hospital discharge. Limited therapeutic options for approved thickening agents for human milk and infant formula necessitate the exploration of alternatives, including banana puree. METHOD: This study investigated the feasibility of using banana puree as a thickening agent for hospitalized infants with dysphagia. The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) flow test determined optimal volumes of banana puree mixed with infant formulas or human milk to achieve desired liquid thickness levels. Nutrition analysis considered potassium intake and calories from carbohydrates to assess dietary composition. RESULT: Banana puree effectively achieved IDDSI Levels 1-3, with varying volumes required based on milk types and caloric concentrations. The nutrition analysis revealed the importance of restricting banana puree to 15% of feeding volumes to avoid exceeding recommended potassium levels while promoting appropriate nutrition. CONCLUSION: Banana puree represents a promising option for thickening feeds in infants with dysphagia, facilitating safe oral feeding opportunities, accelerating the introduction of oral feeding, and, potentially, improving long-term outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore its impact on feeding progression, hospital stays, growth, patient outcomes, and feeding-related behaviors compared with traditional thickening agents.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Use of banana puree as a thickening agent for infant feeds, with optimal volumes determined through flow testing to achieve desired liquid thickness levels (IDDSI Levels 1-3), restricted to 15% of total feeding volume
- Population
- Hospitalized infants with dysphagia, including high-risk and preterm neonates
Key finding
Banana puree effectively achieved IDDSI Levels 1-3 with varying volumes depending on milk type and caloric concentration