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 a long list
of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin
C, and for good reason. Vitamin C plays an significant
role in an immune system that works well.
In addition to spine pain care, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office asks our Groton
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 add
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mostly 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 severe infection or
cardiovascular disease or cancerimpact C levels. Quite a few issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and should 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 usual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Groton
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 deficient levels of vitamin C.
Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were noted 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 greater
risk for inflammatory driven disease with little or no signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office encourage our Groton
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 is a well-functioning
immune system. Researchers have established levels of
intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people are low. Deficient 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 found 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 deficiencies on the immune system is also suggested.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office is prepared to analyze the vitamin
C levels of our Groton chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Schedule your Groton chiropractic
appointment now. Together, we can explore just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!