Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic 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 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, Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic works with our Montreal chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers studied what factors contribute 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 play 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 severe infection or cardiovascular disease or cancerinfluence C levels. So many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and need to be thought about when creating global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied well enough around the world particularly in low- and middle- income countries. Completed studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is usual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our Montreal 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 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. Deficient 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 greater risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic urge our Montreal 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 delicate balance of several issues; one is a well-functioning immune system. Researchers have set intake levels of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet many people‘s levels are low. Inadequate levels of such nutrients impair the immune system and weaken its response when it is needed most. 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 described as beneficial while a recommendation for better understanding of the interactions of multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also suggested. This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk people. (4) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic is prepared to analyze the vitamin C levels of our Montreal chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 Montreal chiropractic appointment soon. Together, we can delve into just how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!
