Nutritional and body weight recommendations for cardiovascular diseases are well established, yet there are no equivalent guidelines for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This cross-sectional study measured the prevalence of cardiovascular-related nutritional and body composition risk factors in sixty PAD patients and their association with PAD severity. A diet that exceeds daily recommended intake of fat and that falls short of recommended intakes of fiber, folate, and vitamin D was associated with increased leg pain and walking difficulty. Increased body fat and waist circumference were associated with diminished walking ability and poorer psychosocial quality of life. Future prospective investigations are merited to inform both PAD clinical care and disease management guidelines.
Keywords: Body composition; nutrition; obesity; peripheral arterial disease; quality of life.