Minster Back Pain and Vitamin D: What to Know
Years of research have recorded advantageous 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 getting better! 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 don’t always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers discovered 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 Minster back pain, a common problem that involves millions of people worldwide? Recently, research has revealed that there may be a connection between small levels of vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still preliminary, it is vital for our Minster chiropractic patients and Minster Chiropractic Center to grasp what this possible connection could mean in managing chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that assists your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps keep bones healthy and strong by keeping them from becoming brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be found in foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some vegetables. Sunlight also offers natural sources of vitamin D—its 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 Minster, sunlight is beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with decreased levels of vitamin D may be more likely to have chronic back pain than those with better levels of vitamin D. One study examined the association between biomarkers (such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over time by comparing biomarkers at baseline to changes in patient-reported results at three months. The results showed that those who had lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have higher levels of disability correlated with their low back pain at 3 months than those who had better levels of vitamin D at baseline. (2) Do you know your Minster 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 adequate levels of the nutrient. This could suggest a link between low vitamin D level and heightened odds for chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. (2) Minster Chiropractic Center suggests you listen to this podcast with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses the benefit of proper nutrition in managing a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 talk about your vitamin D level. Schedule your Minster chiropractic appointment with Minster Chiropractic Center, your partner in spinal health.
