Years of research have recorded beneficial
actions 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
growing! Researchers today are analyzing
vitamin D’s effects on biomarkers like CRP, NPY, TNF-alpha, etc.,
after spinal manipulation and medical care. (2) In older adults who tend
to not always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers described
that even a marginally increased intake of
vitamin D was linked to 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 West Des Moines back pain, a familiar
problem that influences 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 vital for our West Des Moines chiropractic
patients and Executive Chiropractic of Iowa to realize what this possible
connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps
your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps bones stay strong and healthy by preventing them
from becoming brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be absorbed from foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some
vegetables. Sunlight also offers natural sources of vitamin D—the
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 West Des Moines, sunlight helps!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower
levels of vitamin D may be more prone to have
chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One
study linked biomarkers
(such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over
time by comparing biomarkers at baseline to differences
in patient-reported outcomes at three months.
The results showed that those who had decreased
levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience 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) What’s your West Des Moines 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 enhanced levels of the nutrient. This
could suggest a relationship between low vitamin D
level and heightened odds for chronic or recurrent episodes
of back pain. (2) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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 Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
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 chat
about your vitamin D level. Make your West Des Moines
chiropractic appointment with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, your partner
in spinal health.