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 an extensive list
of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an significant
role in an immune system that works well.
In addition to spine pain care, Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn works with our Ashburn
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 contribute
to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced
mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced by
cultural features like traditional cooking methods with
traditional core foods like grains which have little vitamin C to give.
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 severe infection or
cardiovascular disease or cancerimpact C levels. Quite a few issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need
to be considered when listing
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
very well 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) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Ashburn
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-known key
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 inadequate 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 higher
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn encourage our Ashburn
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
many issues; one is a well-functioning
immune system. Researchers have established intake levels of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but
many people‘s levels are low. Deficient levels
of such nutrients damage the immune system and lessen
its response when it is most needed.
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 recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also made.
This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Ashburn chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the role chiropractic may play in immune
system health along with how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Ashburn chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can explore just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!