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

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