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Vancouver Disc Centers 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 for good reason. Vitamin C plays an significant role in a healthy functioning immune system. In addition to spine pain care, Vancouver Disc Centers works with our Vancouver chiropractic patients to notice their body’s fuel levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!

LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS

Researchers studied what factors add to low vitamin C status and found that vitamin C levels are influenced mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by cultural factors like traditional cooking methods with traditional core 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 contribute 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. Relying on completed studies, researchers report that vitamin C deficiency is usual in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Vancouver Disc Centers may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our Vancouver 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 consistent 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 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 folks are at higher risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Vancouver Disc Centers urge our Vancouver 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 levels of intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, but many people are low. Inadequate levels of such nutrients damage 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 explained as beneficial while a call for better understanding of the interactions of multiple nutrient deficiencies on the immune system is also made. This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk people. (4) Vancouver Disc Centers is prepared to analyze the vitamin C levels of our Vancouver chiropractic patients and assist them in adjusting it as needed.

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the role chiropractic may play in immune system health as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management works.

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

 
Vancouver Disc Centers presents 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."