Years of research have detailed beneficial
activities of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, metabolic issues, cancer, inflammation,
auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes,
thyroiditis, and others. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation continues
getting better! Researchers now are evaluating
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 associated with a lower incidence of
pain over 5 years in addition to frequency of pain, severity, and
number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and Groton back pain, a common
problem that affects millions of people around the
world? Recently, research has shown
that there may be a link between small levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the evidence is still early,
it is important for our Groton chiropractic
patients and Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office to understand what this possible
connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is a crucial 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 found
in foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some
vegetables. Sunlight also provides natural sources of vitamin D—its
ultraviolet rays transform cholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and are deposited
in fat tissues. Even in winter in Groton, sunlight helps!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower
levels of vitamin D may be more likely to have
chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One
report examined the association between biomarkers
(such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over
time via comparison of biomarkers at baseline to changes
in patient-reported outcomes at three months.
The results showed that those who had lower
levels of vitamin D were more likely to have higher levels of
disability related to their low back pain at follow-up
than those who had better levels of vitamin D at the start.
(2) Do you know your Groton 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 link between low vitamin D
level and heightened risk for chronic or recurrent bouts
of back pain. (2) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office 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 proper nutrition in managing
a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
Overall, there is evidence pointing to a
link between a low Vitamin D level and an increased risk for
chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. Let’s talk
about your vitamin D level. Schedule your Groton
chiropractic appointment with Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office, your partner
in spinal health.