The immune system is a hard working system.
Like a car or plane or boat, it needs fuel to keep
working hard. The fuel for the immune system is an extensive list
of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an influential
role in an immune system that works well.
In addition to spine pain care, Johnson Chiropractic asks our Richmond
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 add
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are impacted
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced 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 cancerimpact C levels. So
many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and need
to be thought about when creating
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
very well around the world especially in
low- and middle- income countries. Completed studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is common in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Johnson Chiropractic may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Richmond
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-recognized key
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 insufficient 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 people are at higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Johnson Chiropractic urge our Richmond
chiropractic patients recognize 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
several issues, one being a well-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 impair the immune system and lessen
its response when it’s most required.
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 explained as beneficial
while a recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also suggested.
This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Johnson Chiropractic is ready to analyze the vitamin
C levels of our Richmond chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 Richmond chiropractic
appointment soon. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!