Years of research have detailed beneficial
activities of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, metabolic issues, cancer, inflammation,
auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes,
thyroiditis, and more. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation keeps
growing! Researchers now are analyzing
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 described
that even a marginally enhanced intake of
vitamin D was associated with a lower incidence of
pain over 5 years plus to frequency of pain, severity, and
number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and McHenry back pain, a familiar
problem that influences millions of people around the
world? Lately, research has shown
that there may be a link between small levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the evidence is still preliminary,
it’s important for our McHenry chiropractic
patients and OrthoIllinois Chiropractic to realize what this potential
connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that helps
your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps bones stay strong and healthy by preventing them
from getting brittle or weak. Vitamin D can be found
in foods such as dairy products, fish, eggs, mushrooms, and some
vegetables. Sunlight also offers natural sources of vitamin D—its
ultraviolet rays convert cholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and are deposited
in fat tissues. Even in winter in McHenry, sunlight does its job!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower
levels of vitamin D may be more prone to experience
chronic back pain than those with better levels of vitamin D. One
report 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.
The results showed that those who had lower
levels of vitamin D were more likely to have higher levels of
disability correlated with their low back pain at 3 months
than those who had better levels of vitamin D at baseline.
(2) What’s your McHenry 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 odds for chronic or recurrent episodes
of back pain. (2) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic suggests you listen to this podcast with Dr.
James Cox on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses the
benefit of proper nutrition in the management of
a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
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 chat
about your vitamin D level. Make your McHenry
chiropractic appointment with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic, your collaborator
in spinal health.