A substantial literature has reported on the prevalence of under- and over-nutrition in selected patient groups; as yet, there is little published evidence of nutrition status of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI)(Reference Tomey, Chen and Wang1, Reference Walters, Buchholz and Martin Glinis2). This study makes attempts to compile the micronutrients profile of over-nourished adults living in the UK with SCI and to compare their intake with the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) and Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) set by the Department of Health(3) and the National Dietary Nutrition Survey (NDNS)(Reference Henderson, Gregory and Irving4). Of 22 patients recruited from the weight management clinic, (47.1±13.4 years; BMI: 35.5 kg/m2), this study found patients who are overweight with SCI failed to meet the recommended values set by the UK Department of Health for K (81.8% of sample), Cu (62% of sample), Se (100% of sample), iodine (59% of sample) and Ca, Na, Fe and Zn for female patients. The intake of Ca, phosphorus, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Cu, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E was lower than the findings of the UK national diet and nutrition survey data. This study shows the numbers of micronutrient inadequacies, relative to the RNI, LRNI and NDNS data. In light of excess energy intake leading to weight gain, the presence of nutritional deficiencies in these groups of patients may seem paradoxical. Causes are multifactorial, and probably include decreased consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased intake in sugar and alcohol. Their diets are nutritionally poor-quality food, such as take away, alcohol and fizzy drinks and change in body composition post SCI, which may influence the storage and availability of certain nutrients. As obesity in SCI has reached an epidemic, apart from introducing appropriate interventions to treat obesity, clinicians must also be aware of possible pre-existing nutritional deficiencies in obese patients. Current guidance on nutritional requirement may be insufficient in the SCI population. In order to identify specific health outcomes where the population failed to meet the recommendation and offer area of improvements, further research on nutrient intake in this group of patients, with a larger sample size is warranted.
SCI: Spinal cord injury group; NDNS: National Dietary and Nutrition Survey4; RNI: Reference Nutrient Intake3; LRNI: Lower Reference Intake3.
