The immune system works hard.
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 discussed being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an influential
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka works with our Sitka
chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel
levels of nutrients like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers examined what factors contribute
to low vitamin C status and learned that vitamin C levels are influenced
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by
cultural aspects like traditional cooking methods with
traditional staple 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 severe 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 listing
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
well enough 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) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Sitka
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 best obtained by regular dietary intake. 41.8%
of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) has deficient levels of vitamin C.
Deficient vitamin C plasma levels were noted 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 folks are at higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka encourage our Sitka
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
many issues, one being a good functioning
immune system. Researchers have set intake levels 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 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 detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Sitka chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Sitka chiropractic
appointment soon. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!