Hollstrom & Associates Inc Describes the Role of Vitamin C for a Healthy Immune System
The immune system works hard. Like a car or plane or boat, 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 influential role in a healthy functioning immune system. In addition to spine pain care, Hollstrom & Associates Inc works with our Largo 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 found that vitamin C levels are impacted mainly by dietary intake. Diet can be influenced by cultural features 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 severe infection or cardiovascular disease or cancerimpact C levels. So many issues seem to add to vitamin C levels and should be considered when making global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied well enough around the world especially in low- and middle- income countries. Relying on completed studies, researchers report that vitamin C deficiency is common in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Hollstrom & Associates Inc may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our Largo chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-recognized key 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. Insufficient vitamin C plasma levels were noted 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 people are at greater risk for inflammatory driven disease with few if any signs of low vitamin C levels. (3) Hollstrom & Associates Inc urge our Largo chiropractic patients recognize 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 being a well-functioning immune system. Researchers have established intake levels 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 lessen its response when it’s 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 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) Hollstrom & Associates Inc is ready to check the vitamin C levels of our Largo chiropractic patients and help them adjust it as needed.
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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 Largo chiropractic appointment today. Together, we can delve into just how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!
