Is the pattern of dietary amino acids intake associated with serum lipid profile and blood pressure among individuals with spinal cord injury?

Objective: The probable effect of dietary amino acids intake pattern on serum lipid profile and blood pressure (BP) have not yet been described among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Tertiary rehabilitation center. Participants: People with SCI referred to Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center between 2011 and 2014. Outcome measures: Dietary intakes were assessed by recording consumed foods by 24-hour dietary recall interviews using Nutritionist IV 3.5.3 modified for Iranian foods. Partial correlation test with adjustment for age, weight, body mass index, total energy intake, total fat, cholesterol and carbohydrate intake, and injury-related variables was used. Results: Dietary intake of lysine was positively related to levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.0001, 0.046, 0.002 and 0.009, respectively). There was a positive significant relationship between the intake of cysteine and levels of TG and SBP as well (P : 0.027 and 0.048, respectively). Higher intakes of threonine and leucine had a negative relationship with TG level (P : 0.001 and 0.026, respectively). Furthermore, tyrosine, threonine and leucine were inversely correlated to blood pressure. Total cholesterol level was only related to intake of threonine and leucine (P : 0.004 and 0.012, respectively). FPG was positively associated with intake of all amino acids except for cysteine, glutamic acid, threonine, leucine and histidine. Conclusion: In the present study, the pattern of relationships between dietary intake of amino acids and serum lipid profile and BP has been described among people with SCI.