# Introduction he scene of care in Japan is very severe. Japan has been aging faster than the other Asian countries since the 1970s. Due to changes in the industrial structure, the people's living environment and family structure have changed rapidly. The Japanese government worked to secure and develop human resources who are engaged in long-term care, as well as promoting various policies and systems aimed at establishing a system for providing public long-term care services. Since the establishment of the long-term care insurance system in 2000, Japanese elderly care services have expanded dramatically in both quality and quantity. However, there is no facility that can accommodate all the elderly peoples who are increasing in the future. Alao, since a large amount of money is required to move into the facility, we must consider home care in the future. It is important to have meals at the nursing care site three or more times daily, and it is necessary to provide safe and tasty meals. When considering the swallowing function, the viscosity of the meal in providing a safe diet is one of the necessary items. We focused on the viscosity in the diet. We thought that nursing care at home would be safer if ordinary households coulds imply provide the viscosity of the meal to the target person. Suppose we can measure the viscosity of the meal and then use a thickener to create a viscosity that suits the person eating the meal. We feel that home care is safe. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to create usable data for nursing food guidance that can create when a registered dietitian visits at home and in the nursing class. # II. # Material and Methods # a) Commercially Available Thickeners Two types of products sold at pharmacies used as commercially available thickeners. Thickener A was 1296 yen (12 USD), including 50 packs of 3 grams. The raw materials are dextrin, water-soluble dietary fiber, and xanthan gum. The nutritional content per 3 grams is that8.1kcal energy, 0g protein, 0g lipid, 2.04g sugar, 0.75g dietary fiber, and 18.6mg sodium. Thickener B was 1274 yen (11.54 USD), including 50 packs of 3 grams. The raw materials are dextrin, thickening polysaccharides, potassium chloride, and sucralose. The nutritional content per 3 grams is that7.9kcal energy, 0g protein, 0g lipid, 1.9g sugar, 0.7g dietary fiber, and 16mg sodium. # b) Commercially Available Nursing food Three types of products used from the easy-tochew category of the universal design food (UDF) on the market. These are Demiglace sauce hamburger, Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style, and White meet fish dumpling with Egg Sauce. All of them are 100g retort pouches and sold for 180 yen (1.67 USD). The nutritional value of Demiglace sauce hamburger was 89 kcal, 4.3g protein, 4.0g lipid, 8.9g carbohydrates, and 0.81g salt equivalent per 100 grams. The nutritional value of Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style was 91 kcal, 5.1g protein, 6.0g lipid, 4.1g carbohydrates, and 0.81g salt equivalent per 100 grams. The nutritional value of White meet fish dumpling with Egg Sauce was 62 kcal, 3.6g protein, 3.0g lipid, 5.2g carbohydrates and 0.92g salt equivalent per 100 grams. # c) Sample (food with a thickener added) adjustment Each of the three foods prepared as five samples. First, the viscosity of the food product itself measured without any modification. Secondly, the food was pulverized for 20 seconds using a mixer into a liquid state, and the viscosity measured. Third, the viscosity was measured after adding 1 gram of thickener (A or B) to the food (100g) ground for 20 seconds with a mixer and stirring for 5 minutes. Fourth, the viscosity measured after adding 2 grams of thickener (A or B) to the food (100g) ground for 20 seconds with a mixer and stirring for 5 minutes. Fifth, the viscosity measured after adding 3 grams of thickener (A or B) to the food (100g) ground for 20 seconds with a mixer and stirring for 5 minutes. # d) Viscosity measurement method The viscosity of each fod was measured using the Line Spread Test Start Kit (LST) manufactured by SARAYA. The measurement procedure is as follows. The viscosity test performed at room temperature (24 degrees). The test repeated three times and the average value calculated. 1. Place the sheet on a level surface. Place a ring with an inner diameter of 30mm in the center of the concentric circles. 2. Add the liquid to be measured to the full thickness of thering (20ml) and let stand for 30 seconds. 3. Lift the ring vertically, and after 30 seconds, measure the spread distance of the solution. Since there are a total of 6 points to measure, the average value of them used as the LST value. 4. After still standing for 5 minutes, the spread of the samples is measured again at 6 points, and the average value recorded as the LST value. # e) Criteria for viscosity There are three levels of classification by LST value1). The first stage is the mildly thick with a viscosity that falls within the rage of 43mm to 36mm (50-150 mPa?s). As for the properties, when the spoon is tilted, it flows down quickly 1) . The second stage is moderately thick with a viscosity that falls within the range of 36mm to 32mm (150-300 mPa?s). As for the properties, when you tilt the spoon, it flows to the surface 1) . The third stage is extremely thick with a viscosity that falls within the range of 32mm to 30mm (300-500 mPa?s). Even if the spoon is tilted, the shape maintained to some extent and it does not flow easily 1) . # f) Statistical processing This study was statistically processed using statistical processing software, Excel 2010 (SSRI Co., Ltd). The data to be compared were first tested for normal distribution by F-test. For comparisons between correlated data, the paired Student t-test used for normally distributed data. Wilcoxon test used for nonnormally distributed data. For comparisons between uncorrelated data, the unpaired Student t-test used for non-normally distributed data. Mann-Whitney test used for non-normally distributed data. # III. # Result a) Result of Demiglace sauce hamburger LST test Table 1 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener A in Demiglace sauce hamburger. As a result of measuring the viscosity of commercial care food without treatment, it found to be the stage 3 (Extremely thick). The result of viscosity measurement after the mixer treatment was also the stage 3 (Extremely thick). However, it found that there is a statistical advantage after 5 minutes rather than 30 seconds, and the viscosity loosens and spreads. However, when the thickener A was added (1g or 2g or 3g), the LST value did not change stably even after 5 minutes as compared with after 30 seconds. The viscosity was within Stage 3. Table 2 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener B in Demiglace sauce hamburger. When the thickener Badded (1g or 2g or 3g), the LST value did not change stably even after 5 minutes as compared with after 30 seconds. The viscosity was within Stage 3. After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min. 3 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener A in Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style. As a result of measuring the viscosity as it was on the market without treatment, it was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. The viscosity after the mixer treatment was in stage 2 after 30 seconds and in stage 1 after 5 minutes. When 1g of thickener A added, the viscosity was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. The viscosity when the thickener A added in 2g was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. When 3g of thickener A added, the viscosity was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. Table 4 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener Bin Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style. When 1g of thickener B added, the viscosity was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. The viscosity when the thickener B added in 2g was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. The viscosity when the thickener B added in 3g was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. # c) Result of White Meat fish dumpling with Egg Sauce LST test Table 5 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener A in White meatfish dumpling with Egg Sauce. As a result of measuring the viscosity as it was on the market without treatment, it was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 1 after 5 minutes. The viscosity after the mixer treatment was stage 1after 30seconds and in stage 1 after 5 minutes. When 1g of thickener A added, the viscosity was Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. The viscosity when the thickener A added in 2g was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. The viscosity when the thickener A added in 3g was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. Table 6 shows the results of viscosity measurement performed by adding the thickener Bin White meat fish dumpling with Egg Sauce. When the thickener B added (1g or 2g or 3g), the LST value did not change stably even after 5 minutes as compared with after 30 seconds. The viscosity was within Stage 3. # d) Results of comparison of two thickeners The result of comparing the stability of the two types of thickeners shown in Table 7, 8, and 9. In the case of the demiglace sauce hamburger, the stability was good when both the thickener A and the thickener B added, and all were in stage 3 (to see Table 7). In the case of Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style, when 1g of thickener added, both thickeners A and B became Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. Thickener B was statistically significantly more stable than A. When a thickener is added 2g, the thickener A was Stage 3 after 30 seconds, and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. But thickener B was in Stage 3 after 30 IV. # Discussion This time, the viscosity was measured using a line spread test to prepare an adjusted care food that can be provided at home using a commercially available thickener and using commercially available nursing food that can purchased at a pharmacy. The viscosity measured by combining two types of commercially available thickeners and three types of available thickeners and three types of commercially available nursing foods. The two thickeners have almost the same price and content. The contained materials differ between water-soluble dietary fiber (thickener A) and thickening polysaccharides (thickener B). Over 100g of commercially available nursing food, Demiglace sauce hamburger had the highest amount of carbohydrates, Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style had the highest amount of lipids, and White meat fish dumpling with Egg Sauce had the highest amount of water (less energy). When the number of carbohydrates was large, the viscosity became high by applying it to a mixer. Still, since the stable content collapses over time, it is possible to enhance the safety as a nursing food by adding a thickener to stabilize the viscosity. If the number of lipids and water is large, the viscosity will decrease with time unless a thickener added, so it is necessary to add a thickener. In the combination of the thickener and the nursing food on the market this time, if 1g of the thickener added, the thickener B could stabilize the viscosity more effectively than the thickener A. Also, it is important to provide a diet high in protein to prevent sarcopenia 2,3) and flail [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] in nutrition. When considering the swallowing function, the viscosity of the meal in providing a safe diet is one of the important items 11) . Further studies on the combination of food and thickener that are compatible with each other and the addition amount of the thickener should continued. We think it is good to continue research on nutritional supplemental drink 12,) and many other drinks 13) for senior citizens and patients. V. # Conclusions Viscosity measured in different combinations of two commercially available thickeners and three commercially available care foods results. The viscosity stabilized by adding a thickener. When the amount of thickener added to food was small (1g per 100g this time), thickeners containing a large number of polysaccharides made the viscosity more stable for foods containing a lot of water and lipids. However, when the added amount of thickener was large, almost the same viscosity was obtained with both the thickener 8). In the case of White meatfish dumpling with Egg Sauce, when a thickener is added 1g, the thickener A was Stage 3 after 30 seconds, and Stage 2 after 5 minutes. But thickener B was in Stage 3 after 30 seconds and 5 minutes. Thickener B was statistically significantly more stable than A. when a thickener added 2g or 3g, both thickeners A and B became Stage 3 after 30 seconds and Stage 2 after 5 minutes (to see Table 9). rich in water-soluble dietary fiber and the thickener rich in polysaccharide thickener. In the future, it will be necessary to increase the number of samples and clarify the differences due to the combinations. 1After 30 sec. After 5 min.K b) Result of Boiled Fried Tofu as Kyoto style LST testTable 2No processingAfter mixingAdd 1g thickenerAdd 2g thickenerAdd 3g thickenerAfter 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min.Average value21.423.927.630.221.421.220.120.418.919.5SD4.75.61.51.77.28.65.45.84.84.9? testP=0.233P=0.321P=0.234P=0.235P=0.459Paired Student-tP=0.0001**P=0.0001**P=0.863P=0.105P=0..58Wilcoxon* P<0.05, ** P<0.01After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.Average value29.732.235.739.531.233.920.522.221.933.2SD5.55.61.71.91.83.96.68.33.61.6? testP=0.470P=0.375P=0.001**P=0.370P=0.001**Paired Student-tP=0.0001**P=0.0001**P=0.234WilcoxonP=0.0001**P=0.0001*** P<0.05, ** P<0.01 3No processingAfter mixingAdd 1g thickenerAdd 2g thickenerAdd 3g thickenerNo processingAfter mixingAdd 1g thickenerAdd 2g thickenerAdd 3g thickenerAfter 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min.Average value29.732.235.739.529.132.122.825.120.522.2SD5.55.61.71.93.24.23.34.66.68.3? testP=0.470P=0.375P=0.138P=0.077P=0.162Paired Student-tP=0.0001**P=0.0001**P=0.058P=0.003**P=0..025*Wilcoxon* P<0.05, ** P<0.01 4After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.Average value31.637.139.843.530.432.721.322.120.821.7SD9.95.71.92.02.61.78.08.86.97.0? testP=0.012?P=0.356P=0.041**P=0.201P=0.493Paired Student-tP=0.0001**P=0.??6**P=0.019*WilcoxonP=0.0001**P=0.0001*** P<0.05, ** P<0.01 5No processingAfter mixingAdd 1g thickenerAdd 2g thickenerAdd 3g thickenerAdd 2g thickenerAfter 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min.After 30 sec. After 5 min. After 30 sec. After 5 min.Average value31.637.139.843.528.430.423.124.521.322.1SD9.95.71.92.02.22.86.26.38.08.8? testP=0.012*P=0.356P=0.145P=0.478P=0.344Paired Student-tP=0.0001**P=0.0001**P=0.0001**P=0..015*WilcoxonP=0.0001*** P<0.05, ** P<0.01 6No processing 7Add 1g thickener, After 30 sec. Add 1g thickener, After 5 min. Add 2g thickener, After 30 sec.Add 2g thickener, After 5 min.Add 3g thickener, After 30 sec.Add 3g thickener, After 5 min.Thickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener A Thickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BAverage value20.621.421.021.219.920.120.620.419.318.920.419.5SD6.57.25.08.65.65.46.55.86.64.86.24.9? testP=0.343P=0.015*P=0.438P=0.295P=0.085P=0.155Unparied Student-tP=0.753P=0.894P=908P=0.835P=0.629Mann-WhitneyP=0.788* P<0.05, ** P<0.01Add 1g thickener, After 30 sec.Add 2g thickener, After 5 min.Add 3g thickener, After 30 sec.Add 3g thickener, After 5 min.Thickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener A Thickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BAverage value31.229.133.932.126.022.833.225.121.920.524.822.2SD1.83.23.94.24.63.31.64.63.66.65.08.3? testP=0.227P=0.021*P=0.098P=0.037**P=0.008**P=0.017*Unparied Student-tP=0.018*P=0.621Mann-WhitneyP=0.020*P=0.0001**P=0.106P=1.000* P<0.05, ** P<0.01 8Thickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener A Thickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BThickener AThickener BAverage value30.428.432.730.424.023.125.824.520.821.321.722.1SD2.62.21.72.84.66.25.66.36.98.07.08.8? testP=0.227P=0.021*P=0.098P=0.303P=0.274P=0.163Unparied Student-tP=0.018*P=0.621P=0.530P=0.842P=-0.876Mann-WhitneyP=0.020** P<0.05, ** P<0.01 9 © 2020 Global Journals Research on the Combination of Commercially Available Thickeners and Commercially Available Nursing Food -Aiming for Viscosity Adjustment that can be done at Home ## Acknowledgement This research was conducted by research and education expenses of Nagoya Women's University, Nagoya City, Japan. * Conparison of 2 tests used for the classification of food thickeners in the management of dysphagia. 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