A liquid concentrate formulated for dilution into a nutritional product is disclosed, as well as the resultant nutritional product, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product is prepared by diluting a liquid concentrate of one or more of a beta-glucan, a plant-extracted gum such as okra gum, or a plant-derived mucilage. Preferably, the resultant nutritional product has a shear viscosity greater than 200 mPas and up to about 2,000 mPas, preferably greater than 200 mPas and up to about 500 mPas, more preferably 250 mPas to about 450 mPas, most preferably 250 mPas to about 400 mPas, when measured at a shear rate of 50 s.sup.−1 at a temperature of 20° C.

A liquid concentrate formulated for dilution into a nutritional product is disclosed, as well as the resultant nutritional product, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional product. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product is prepared by diluting a liquid concentrate of one or more of a beta-glucan, a plant-extracted gum such as okra gum, or a plant-derived mucilage. Preferably, the resultant nutritional product has a shear viscosity greater than 200 mPas and up to about 2,000 mPas, preferably greater than 200 mPas and up to about 500 mPas, more preferably 250 mPas to about 450 mPas, most preferably 250 mPas to about 400 mPas, when measured at a shear rate of 50 s.sup.−1 at a temperature of 20° C.

A formulation to increase the ratio of gastrointestinal microbiota in phylum Bacteroidetes to microbiota of Firmicutes phylum preferably includes about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of fermentable fiber, about 10-30 mg/kg of body weight of beta glucan and about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of blueberry extracts or any fruit or berry ingredient preparation containing similar phenolics. This formulation is preferably used to control body weight, body composition, and blood glucose regulation, preferably in humans, and is preferably administered orally, preferably twice per day.

A formulation to increase the ratio of gastrointestinal microbiota in phylum Bacteroidetes to microbiota of Firmicutes phylum preferably includes about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of fermentable fiber, about 10-30 mg/kg of body weight of beta glucan and about 20-60 mg/kg of body weight of blueberry extracts or any fruit or berry ingredient preparation containing similar phenolics. This formulation is preferably used to control body weight, body composition, and blood glucose regulation, preferably in humans, and is preferably administered orally, preferably twice per day.

Nutritional products, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional products are disclosed. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

Nutritional products, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture and methods for improving the cohesiveness of the nutritional products are disclosed. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

A thickener is disclosed, as well as a nutritional product including the thickener, uses thereof, methods for the manufacture thereof, methods for improving the cohesiveness of a nutritional product, and related systems. The nutritional products have improved cohesiveness for promoting safer and more efficient swallowing of food boluses for individuals having swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritional product includes a thickener comprising a beta-glucan and an additive. Preferably, the nutritional product has a relaxation time, determined by a Capillary Breakup Extensional Rheometry (CaBER) experiment, of from 10 ms to 2000 ms at a temperature of 20° C.

Provided are a β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder having high solubility in water, a glucan-containing composition using the powder or the like, a method for producing the β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder, an inclusion complex, a method for producing the inclusion complex, and a method for recovering a guest molecule. The β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder has a saturation solubility in water at 25° C. of from 1.0 to 20.0 % by mass. The β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder is such that in a particle size distribution of β-1,3-1,6-glucans, determined by subjecting the β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder to dynamic light scattering measurements, a particle size of a peak representing a largest volume fraction is in a range from 5 nm to 15 nm, and a volume fraction of a peak outside of the particle size range from 5 nm to 15 nm is 30 % or less of the volume fraction of the peak having the largest volume fraction.

Provided are a β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder having high solubility in water, a glucan-containing composition using the powder or the like, a method for producing the β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder, an inclusion complex, a method for producing the inclusion complex, and a method for recovering a guest molecule. The β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder has a saturation solubility in water at 25° C. of from 1.0 to 20.0 % by mass. The β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder is such that in a particle size distribution of β-1,3-1,6-glucans, determined by subjecting the β-1,3-1,6-glucan powder to dynamic light scattering measurements, a particle size of a peak representing a largest volume fraction is in a range from 5 nm to 15 nm, and a volume fraction of a peak outside of the particle size range from 5 nm to 15 nm is 30 % or less of the volume fraction of the peak having the largest volume fraction.

Provided are nutritional compositions containing dietary butyrate. Further disclosed are methods for reducing the incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in a target subject via administering the nutritional composition containing dietary butyrate to the target subject. Further provided are methods for improving adipose tissue functioning in a target subject.