Original Article

Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 318–322; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.134; published online 11 November 2008

Evidence of dietary inadequacy in adults with chronic spinal cord injury

J L Walters1, A C Buchholz1 and K A Martin Ginis2

  1. 1Department of Family Relations and Applied Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
  2. 2Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: Dr AC Buchholz, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Macdonald Stewart Hall, Room 326, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. E-mail: abuchhol@uoguelph.ca

Received 9 June 2008; Revised 25 August 2008; Accepted 4 October 2008; Published online 11 November 2008.

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Cross-sectional, observational study.

Objective:

 

Estimate prevalence of inadequate dietary intakes in community-dwelling men and women with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting:

 

Ontario, Canada.

Methods:

 

In-home interviewer administered multiple-pass 24-h recalls were collected at baseline (n=77) and at 6 months (n=68). Dietary intake (adjusted to remove intra-individual variation) was compared with the dietary reference intakes (DRIs), specifically the estimated average requirement, adequate intake (AI) and acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR).

Results:

 

Macronutrient intakes, as percentages of daily energy, for men (16% protein, 52% carbohydrate, 30% fat) and women (17% protein, 53% carbohydrate, 28% fat) were within the AMDR. Despite this, inadequate intakes for men (n=63) and women (n=14) were determined for vitamin A (92 and 57%), magnesium (89 and 71%), folate (75 and 79%), zinc (71 and 29%), vitamin C (52 and 14%), thiamine (22 and 14%), vitamin B12 (6 and 29%), riboflavin (5% men) and vitamin B6 (24% men). Mean usual intakes of fiber, vitamin D, calcium and potassium fell below the AI for men and women. In all, 53% of participants consumed a micronutrient supplement in the previous 24 h at baseline and at 6 months—specifically, calcium (29, 19%), multivitamin (26, 25%), vitamin D (22, 12%) and vitamin C (9, 6%).

Conclusion:

 

Our results show numerous nutrient inadequacies, relative to the DRIs, for men and women with SCI. This study has important implications for clinical dietetic practice in the SCI population.

Sponsorship:

 

Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, diet, DRI, nutrient, adequacy, SHAPE SCI

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