The immune system is a hard working system.
Like any organ or machine, 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, Manahawkin Chiropractic Center asks our Manahawkin
chiropractic patients to notice their body’s fuel
levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors contribute
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are impacted
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 offer.
Environmental factors play a role like geographic region,
season, climate, and pollution. Demographic factors 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 cancerinfluence C levels. So
many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and need
to be considered 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 commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our Manahawkin
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 best 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.
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 people are at higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center encourage our Manahawkin
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 established intake levels of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people are low. Inadequate levels
of such nutrients impair the immune system and weaken
its response when it is 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 call 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) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is ready to check the vitamin
C levels of our Manahawkin chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
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 as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Manahawkin chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can explore just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!