Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC Describes the Role of Vitamin C for a Healthy Immune System

The immune system is a hard working system. Like a car or plane or boat, it needs fuel to keep working hard. The fuel for the immune system is a long list of micronutrients, the most mentioned being vitamin C, and for good reason. Vitamin C plays an instrumental role in an immune system that works well. In addition to spine pain care, Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC works with our La Grande chiropractic patients to pay attention to their body’s fuel levels of vitamins like vitamin C. Nutrition is important!

LOW VITAMIN C LEVELS

Researchers examined what factors add to low vitamin C status and learned that vitamin C levels are impacted mostly by dietary intake. Diet can be affected by cultural aspects 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 cancerimpact C levels. So many issues seem to contribute to vitamin C levels and need to be thought about 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 commonplace in low-, middle- and even in subgroups of people in high-income settings. (2) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC may not be able to address the vitamin C levels of those around the world, but we are available to our La Grande chiropractic friends!

ROLE OF VITAMIN C IN IMMUNE FUNCTION

Vitamin C is a well-recognized 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 deficient levels of vitamin C. Insufficient 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) Dr. 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 delicate balance of several issues, one being a well-functioning immune system. Researchers have established levels of intake of micronutrients like vitamins A, C, D, E and zinc, yet many people are low. Inadequate levels of such nutrients impair the immune system and lessen its response when it’s most required. 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 deficiencies on the immune system is also made. This would help identify optimal levels of intake for at-risk people. (4) Dr. 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

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 La Grande chiropractic appointment soon. Together, we can explore just how well you are fueling your body to keep the immune system working optimally!