Years of research have documented beneficial
actions of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, inflammation,
cancer, metabolic issues,
auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes,
thyroiditis, and others. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation continues
getting better! Researchers today are testing
vitamin D’s effects on biomarkers like CRP, NPY, TNF-alpha, etc.,
after spinal manipulation and medical care. (2) In older adults who don’t always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers described
that even a slightly increased intake of
vitamin D was linked to a lesser incidence of
pain over 5 years in addition to frequency of pain, severity, and
number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and Richmond back pain, a common
problem that involves millions of people worldwide? Recently, research has shown
that there may be a link between low levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still early,
it’s vital for our Richmond chiropractic
patients and Johnson Chiropractic to grasp what this possible
connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that assists
your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps keep bones healthy
and strong by preventing them
from becoming brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be absorbed from foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some
vegetables. Sunlight also provides natural sources of vitamin D—the
ultraviolet rays transform cholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and stored
in fat tissues. Even in winter in Richmond, sunlight is
beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower
levels of vitamin D may be more prone to experience
chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One
report linked biomarkers
(such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over
time via comparison of biomarkers at baseline to differences
in patient-reported outcomes at three months.
The results demonstrated that those who had decreased
levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience higher levels of
disability correlated with their low back pain at follow-up
than those who had better levels of vitamin D at the start.
(2) Do you know your Richmond vitamin D level?
CHECK YOUR VITAMIN D LEVEL
Researchers have found that those with lower levels of
Vitamin D tend to report more frequent episodes of back pain than their
counterparts with better levels of the nutrient. This
could indicate a relationship between low vitamin D
level and increased odds for chronic or recurrent episodes
of back pain. (2) Johnson Chiropractic suggests you listen to this podcast with Dr.
James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he reviews the
benefit of adequate nutrition in managing
a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Overall, there is evidence suggesting a
link between a low Vitamin D level and an increased possibility for
chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. Let us talk
about your vitamin D level. Make your Richmond
chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic, your collaborator
in spinal health.