The immune system works hard.
Like any organ or machine, it needs fuel to keep
working hard. The fuel for the immune system is a long list
of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin
C, and for good reason. Vitamin C plays an influential
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Minster Chiropractic Center works with our Minster
chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel
levels of nutrients like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors add
to low vitamin C status and learned that vitamin C levels are impacted
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by
cultural factors like traditional cooking methods with
traditional staple foods like grains which have little vitamin C to give.
Environmental factors have a role like geographic region,
season, climate, and pollution. Demographic issues like age, race,
sex, and socioeconomic factors like deprivation, education, institutionalization,
and social class. Health factors like smoking, body weight, pregnancy/lactation,
genetic variants, as well as diseases like serious infection or
cardiovascular disease or cancerinfluence C levels. So
many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and should be thought about when making
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
very well around the world especially in
low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers
report that vitamin C deficiency is not
unusual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Minster Chiropractic Center may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our Minster
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-recognized essential
factor in immune function and epigenetic inflammatory modifications. Vitamin C
is optimally obtained by consistent dietary intake. 41.8%
of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) has deficient levels of vitamin C.
Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were found in
males, adults aged 20-59, Black and Mexican Americans, smokers, those who
have higher BMI, and those with middle and high poverty to income
ratio and food insecurity. These folks are at higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Minster Chiropractic Center encourage our Minster
chiropractic patients know if they are at risk for low nutrient
levels and address those to be as healthy as possible!
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Health and well-being is a careful balance of
many issues; one is a well-functioning
immune system. Researchers have established intake levels of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet
many people are low. Deficient levels
of such nutrients impair the immune system and weaken
its response when it is most needed.
In a study of 26,282 adults over age 19 in the 2005-2016 NHANES study, a “prevalence
of inadequacy” was found for all of these:
- 45% for vitamin A
- 46% for vitamin C
- 95% for vitamin D
- 84% for vitamin E
- 15% for zinc
Supplementation is explained as beneficial
while a recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient shortages on the immune system is also suggested.
This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Minster Chiropractic Center is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Minster chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the role chiropractic may play in immune
system health along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Minster chiropractic
appointment now. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!