Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries Describes the Role of Vitamin C for a Healthy Immune System

The immune system works hard. Like any organ or machine, it needs fuel to keep working hard. The fuel for the immune system is an extensive 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, Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries works with our Manchester chiropractic patients to notice their body’s fuel levels of nutrients 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 influenced mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by cultural aspects like traditional cooking methods with traditional core 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 cancerinfluence C levels. Quite a few issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need to be thought about when making global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied very well around the world especially in low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers report that vitamin C deficiency is commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our Manchester 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 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 higher risk for inflammatory driven disease with little or no signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries encourage our Manchester chiropractic patients know 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 levels of intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet many people‘s levels are low. Inadequate levels of such nutrients damage the immune system and lessen its response when it’s 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 described as beneficial while a recommendation 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) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries is prepared to check the vitamin C levels of our Manchester chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.

CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries

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 Manchester chiropractic appointment today. Together, we can delve into just how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!

 
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries shares new stats on the importance of vitamin C for the body’s immune system and how levels may be too low for many. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."