The aims of this study were (a) to determine whether the daily dietary intake of nutrients by patients(pts.) with peripheral artery disease (PAD) met recommended levels for adults 50 years or older, and (b) to determine whether meeting recommended levels of nutrients was associated with ankle-brachial index (ABI), inflammation, and ambulation of PAD pts.. Methods: 48 pts. were assessed on their dietary intake of 20 nutrients during a three-day period. Pts. were also characterized on demographic variables, comorbid conditions, cardiovascular risk factors, ABI, 6-minute walk distance, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Results: Few pts. met the daily recommended intakes for calcium (4%), fiber (6%), vitamin E (6%), trans fatty acids (13%), vitamin A (15%), total sugars (19%), potassium (23%), sodium (29%), saturated fat (29%), and vitamin C (31%), and none of the pts. met the daily recommended intake of vitamin D (0%). Overall, pts. met few of the 20 dietary recommendations. Only 17 of 48 pts. met more than 7 of the recommendations. The ABI regression model adjusted for age, sex, race, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, body mass index, and percentage body fat, total sugars was the only significant predictor (p<0.001) as pts. who did not meet the recommendation had lower ABI values. The hsCRP adjusted regression model, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (p=0.001) was the strongest significant predictor, indicating that those who did not meet the recommendation had higher hsCRP values. Finally, the 6-minute walk distance adjusted regression model, folate (p=0.011), and dietary score index (p=0.014) were significant predictors, as those who did not meet the recommendation for folate and those who met five or fewer of the 20 recommendations had shorter 6-minute walk distances. Conclusions: PAD pts. consume a low nutrient dense diet that is deficient in many vitamins, calcium, fruits, and vegetables, and contains too much added sugar, saturated and trans fats, and processed foods. Additionally, more severe PAD, greater inflammation, and ambulatory dysfunction are independently associated with aspects of a low
nutrient dense diet, such as too much intake of added sugars, low intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and folate, and only meeting the recommended intakes of five or fewer nutrients.