Thickening agent
Thickening agent
A thickening agent or thickener is a substance which can increase the viscosity of a liquid without substantially changing its other properties.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈθɪkənɪŋ ˈeɪdʒənt/
Etymology
The term "thickening agent" is derived from the English words "thicken" (from Old English 'þiccian') and "agent" (from Latin 'agens').
Types of thickening agents
Thickening agents are often regulated to be food-grade and as such are edible. Edible thickeners are commonly used to thicken sauces, soups, and puddings without altering their taste; thickeners are also used in paints, inks, explosives, and cosmetics.
Thickening agents may also improve the suspension of other ingredients or emulsions which increases the stability of the product. Thickening agents used in cosmetics or personal hygiene products include viscous liquids such as polyethylene glycol, lactic acid, and glycol stearate.
Use in medicine
In medicine, thickening agents are often used to improve the rheology of fluids in the human body, for example in the management of dysphagia to increase the viscosity of fluids, making them easier for patients to swallow.
See also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thickening agent
- Wikipedia's article - Thickening agent
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