Minster Chiropractic Center 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 a long list of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin C, and for good reason. Vitamin C plays an influential role in a healthy functioning immune system. In addition to spine pain care, Minster Chiropractic Center works with our Minster 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 factors 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 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. So many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and should 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 not unusual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Minster Chiropractic Center may not be able to address the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our Minster 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 consistent dietary intake. 41.8% of participants in the 2003-2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) has deficient levels of vitamin C. Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were found in males, adults aged 20-59, Black and Mexican Americans, smokers, those who have higher BMI, and those with middle and high poverty to income ratio and food insecurity. These folks are at higher risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Minster Chiropractic Center encourage our Minster chiropractic patients know 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 careful 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, yet many people are low. Deficient levels of such nutrients impair the immune system and weaken 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 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 explained 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) Minster Chiropractic Center is prepared to check the vitamin C levels of our Minster chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

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

 
Minster Chiropractic Center shares new stats on the importance of vitamin C for the body’s immune system and how levels may be too low for many. 
« View All Nutrition Articles
"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."