The immune system is a hard working system.
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 discussed being vitamin
C, and rightly so. Vitamin C plays an instrumental
role in an immune system that works well.
In addition to spine pain care, Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC works with our La Grande
chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel
levels of nutrients like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!
LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS
Researchers examined what factors contribute
to low vitamin C status and learned 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 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. Quite a few issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need
to be thought about when listing
global recommendations for dietary intake. (1) Vitamin C levels are not studied
very well around the world particularly in
low- and middle- income countries. Completed studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency is commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings.
(2) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC may not be able to fix the vitamin C levels
of those around the world, but we are here for our La Grande
chiropractic friends!
ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION
Vitamin C is a well-known key
factor in immune function and epigenetic inflammatory modifications. Vitamin C
is best obtained by consistent 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 noted 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 little or no signs
of low vitamin C levels. (3) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC urge our La Grande
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. Deficient levels
of such nutrients impair the immune system and weaken
its response when it’s most needed.
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 call for better understanding of the interactions of
multiple nutrient shortages on the immune system is also made.
This would help detect optimal levels of intake for at-risk
people. (4) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is ready to analyze the vitamin
C levels of our La Grande chiropractic patients and assist them in
adjusting it as needed.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
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 as well as how The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management works.
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic
appointment now. Together, we can delve into just
how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working best!