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
growing! Researchers today are testing
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 found
that even a slightly enhanced intake of
vitamin D was linked to a lesser incidence of
pain over 5 years plus to frequency of pain, severity, and
number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and La Grande back pain, a common
problem that involves millions of people around the
world? Lately, research has shown
that there may be a connection between low levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still preliminary,
it is important for our La Grande chiropractic
patients and Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC to realize what this potential
connection could mean in managing chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that helps
your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps keep bones healthy
and strong by preventing them
from getting brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be absorbed from foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some
vegetables. Sunlight also provides natural sources of vitamin D—the
ultraviolet rays convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and stored
in fat tissues. Even in winter in La Grande, sunlight helps!
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 linked 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 outcomes at three months’ follow-up.
The results demonstrated that those who had lower
levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience higher levels of
disability related to their low back pain at 3 months
than those who had higher levels of vitamin D at the start.
(2) Do you know your La Grande 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 better levels of the nutrient. This
could indicate a link between low vitamin D
level and heightened risk for chronic or recurrent episodes
of back pain. (2) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC suggests you listen to this podcast with Dr.
James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he reviews the
benefit of adequate nutrition in the management of
a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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. Make your La Grande
chiropractic appointment with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC, your partner
in spinal health.