DIETARY INTAKE OF SUBJECTS WITH PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE AND CLAUDICATION

We compared the dietary intakes of subjects with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and claudication with diet recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) and dietary reference intake values recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences. Forty-six subjects consumed a mean macronutrient composition of 17% protein, 51% carbohydrate, and 30% fat. Compared to the NCEP and IOM recommendations, few subjects met the recommended daily intakes for sodium (0%), vitamin E (0%), folate (13%), saturated fat (20%), fiber (26%), and cholesterol (39%). Subjects with PAD and claudication have poor nutrition, with diets particularly high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol, and low in fiber, vitamin E and folate intakes. Subjects should be encouraged to reduce consumption of dietary fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and to increase fiber and vitamin intakes to meet recommendations of the NCEP and IOM.