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 a long list
of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an instrumental
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa works with our West Des Moines
chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel
levels of nutrients like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors add
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced by
cultural aspects like traditional cooking methods with
traditional staple foods like grains which have little vitamin C to give.
Environmental factors have 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 cancerimpact C levels. Quite a few 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
very well 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are available to our West Des Moines
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 regular dietary intake. 41.8%
of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination
Surveys (NHANES) has inadequate levels of vitamin C.
Deficient 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 people are at greater
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa urge our West Des Moines
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 careful balance of
several issues, one being a good functioning
immune system. Researchers have set intake levels of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people are low. Deficient levels
of such nutrients impair the immune system and lessen
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 deficiencies on the immune system is also suggested.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is ready to check the vitamin
C levels of our West Des Moines chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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.
Make your West Des Moines chiropractic
appointment now. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!