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 rightly so. Vitamin C plays an influential
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries works with our Manchester
chiropractic patients to notice their body’s fuel
levels of nutrients like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors contribute
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by
cultural aspects like traditional cooking methods with
traditional core foods like grains which have little vitamin C to offer.
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. Quite a few issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need
to 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 commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our Manchester
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 regular dietary intake. 41.8%
of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) has inadequate levels of vitamin C.
Deficient 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 people are at higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with little or no signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries encourage our Manchester
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 careful balance of
several issues, one being a good functioning
immune system. Researchers have set levels of
intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet
many people‘s levels are low. Inadequate levels
of such nutrients damage the immune system and lessen
its response when it’s 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 recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient shortages on the immune system is also made.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Manchester chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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 as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Manchester chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!