The immune system works hard.
Like any organ or machine, it needs fuel to keep
working hard. The fuel for the immune system is an extensive list
of micronutrients, the most talked about being vitamin
C, and for good reason. Vitamin C plays an significant
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Vancouver Disc Centers works with our Vancouver
chiropractic patients to notice their body’s fuel
levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors add
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by
cultural factors 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 serious infection or
cardiovascular disease or cancerinfluence C levels. So
many issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need
to be thought about when creating
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
well enough around the world particularly in
low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers
report that vitamin C deficiency is usual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Vancouver Disc Centers may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our Vancouver
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-known 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 insufficient 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 few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Vancouver Disc Centers urge our Vancouver
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 levels of
intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people are low. Inadequate levels
of such nutrients damage the immune system and weaken
its response when it is needed most.
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 call for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also made.
This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Vancouver Disc Centers is prepared to analyze the vitamin
C levels of our Vancouver chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates the role chiropractic may play in immune
system health as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Schedule your Vancouver chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!