The immune system is a hard working system.
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 discussed being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an significant
role in an immune system that works well.
In addition to spine pain care, Spinal Care Clinic works with our Burlington and Hamilton
chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel
levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers examined what factors contribute
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced by
cultural features like traditional cooking methods with
traditional core 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 severe infection or
cardiovascular disease or cancerinfluence C levels. So
many issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need
to be considered when creating
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
well enough around the world especially in
low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers
report that vitamin C deficiency is commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Spinal Care Clinic may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our Burlington and Hamilton
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 best obtained by consistent dietary intake. 41.8%
of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) has inadequate levels of vitamin C.
Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were found in
males, adults aged 20-59, Black and Mexican Americans, smokers, those with 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 little or no signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Spinal Care Clinic encourage our Burlington and Hamilton
chiropractic patients know if they are at risk for low nutrient
levels and work to raise them to be as healthy as possible!
IMMUNE SYSTEM
Health and well-being is a delicate balance of
many issues; one is a good functioning
immune system. Researchers have established levels of
intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people‘s levels are low. Inadequate levels
of such nutrients damage the immune system and lessen
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 seen 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 described as beneficial
while a call for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also made.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Spinal Care Clinic is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates the role chiropractic may have in immune
system health along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic
appointment now. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!