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 for good reason. Vitamin C plays an instrumental
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Apple Country Chiropractic works with our Williamson
chiropractic patients to notice 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 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 play 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 contribute 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 particularly in
low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers
report that vitamin C deficiency is common in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Apple Country Chiropractic may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Williamson
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-recognized essential
factor in immune function and epigenetic inflammatory modifications. Vitamin C
is optimally obtained by consistent 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 found 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 folks are at greater
risk for inflammatory driven disease with little or no signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Apple Country Chiropractic encourage our Williamson
chiropractic patients recognize 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 delicate balance of
several issues; one is 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 weaken
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 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 shortages on the immune system is also made.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Apple Country Chiropractic is prepared to analyze the vitamin
C levels of our Williamson chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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 Williamson chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!