[Dysphagia] hyperosmolar fluids and yogurt

[eripley at yahoo.com (Irene Campbell-Taylor)]

dysphagiadude@mailcan.com wrote:

So, okay, I do not believe the patient who initially generated this
question is currently at risk for any serious consequences of
aspiration. Our physiatrist disagrees, and seems to have a special
agenda where yogurt is concerned.

** I think I would ask her what exactly it is that she is objecting to. She may say that it is because yogurt promotes the manufacture of lactase, an enzyme. I believe that it has to enter the GI tract to do this. Would a dietitian help me out here?

The next thing would be to point out that the amount aspirated is more important than its nature. For example, normals aspirate small amounts of refluxed stomach acid with no harmful effects but, if they aspirated large amounts, would be very sick indeed. 

The "live culture" issue can be overcome by using yogurt that does not contain live cultures - by far the majority of commercially available products.

Irene

 



Dr I Campbell-Taylor
Clinical Neuroscientist
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