Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular (CVD) Risk in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Factors In Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Dietary Patterns & There Relationship to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors In Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

This study will look at dietary patterns in individuals with chronic spinal cord injuries and the relationship between these dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The study is a supplement to the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The dietary history from CARDIA will be used. The investigators' primary hypothesis is the following: Greater whole-grain and dietary fiber intake will be favorably associated with adiposity (BMI and WC) and metabolic CVD risk factors (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, diabetes, hsCRP, TC, HDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C ratio, non-HDL-C, and systolic and diastolic blood-pressure) among a sample of individuals with SCI aged 38-50 who have been injured >1 year.

This study is a cross-sectional study. It will look at dietary patterns in individuals with chronic spinal cord injuries and the relationship between these dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The study is a supplement to the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The dietary history from CARDIA will be used. The investigators' primary hypothesis is the following: Greater whole-grain and dietary fiber intake will be favorably associated with adiposity (BMI and WC) and metabolic CVD risk factors (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, diabetes, hsCRP, TC, HDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C ratio, non-HDL-C, and systolic and diastolic blood-pressure) among a sample of individuals with SCI aged 38-50 who have been injured >1 year.

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or female, black or white with SCI due to a nonvascular insult that caused an acute spinal cord injury (i.e. traumatic injury, transverse myelitis without a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, surgical complication, or benign neoplasm) at least 1 year prior to enrollment including ASIA A,B,C
• Age at time of enrollment: > 38 years and <55 years (i.e., on or after 38th birthday and before 55th birthday)
• Voluntary, informed consent of participant
• Participant willing to comply with the testing protocols and questionnaires
• Communication and comprehension sufficient for compliance with all testing procedures and measures Exclusion Criteria
• SCI of a vascular or malignant etiology
• Pregnancy, end-stage renal disease, treatment for cancer except for non-melanoma skin cancer in the past five years
• Injury < 1 years prior to enrollment
• ASIA D
• Chronic, nontobacco substance-abuse