Dietary intakes and serum concentrations of vitamin e and total carotenoids of healthy adults with severe physical disabilities are lower than matched controls

Millions of people worldwide have severe chronic physical disabilities (e.g., polio, spinal cord injury). We hypothesized that these people are at risk for poor antioxidant nutrient intakes and status, because of their typically low energy expenditures and low socioeconomic status. We surveyed antioxidant nutrient intakes and concentrations in subjects with physical disabilities and age matched non-disabled controls. Only one subject with physical disabilities ate five or more servings of vegetables per day. The group had low intakes of vegetables (minus potatoes) and citrus fruits, and trends for low intakes of all antioxidant nutrients. Serum a-tocopherol and total carotenoid concentrations were lower in subjects with physical disabilities, while retinol and individual carotenoids showed nonsignificant lower trends. Since adequate antioxidant nutrients are associated with decreased chronic disease risk, nutrition professionals might improve the health of patients with physical disabilities by periodically monitoring their intakes and status of antioxidant nutrients.