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 talked about being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an influential
role in a healthy functioning immune system.
In addition to spine pain care, Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre works with our Toronto
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 learned that vitamin C levels are impacted
mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by
cultural features like traditional cooking methods with
traditional staple foods like grains which have little vitamin C to offer.
Environmental factors have 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 add to vitamin C levels and should 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) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre may not be able to address the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our Toronto
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-recognized key
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 insufficient 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 greater
risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre encourage our Toronto
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 delicate balance of
many issues; one is a well-functioning
immune system. Researchers have established levels of
intake 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 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 described as beneficial
while a recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient shortages on the immune system is also suggested.
This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre is prepared to check the vitamin
C levels of our Toronto chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the role chiropractic may have in immune
system health as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Make your Toronto chiropractic
appointment today. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!