Georgetown Immune-Supporting, Infection-Fighting Vitamins C and D
Infections are in the headlines. From common colds and flu to the larger one that is all over the news 24/7, infections got our interest. While a solution to “the” infection is being sought, working to make sure that Georgetown immune systems are at their optimal level to fight and fight off what infections it can is a worthy effort. Georgetown chiropractic patients surely grasp the benefits of vitamins C and D. Nutrition is an integral part of health and chiropractic treatment plan. Dr. Butwell shares their advantages to a healthy immune system as well as some notable medical research studies to support them.
VITAMIN C TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION
When the risk of infection is elevated, we all hope for options for prevention and treatment whose risk of side-effects is small. In comes vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant particularly when acquired intravenously. Its potential effect is that of decreasing inflammation in the lungs. Vitamin C is written to have antiviral properties, too. (1) L-ascorbic acid of vitamin C is a well-known anti-viral agent, one of the more well known ones, especially when dealing with the influenza virus. Taken early on in an infection, vitamin C demonstrated anti-viral immune responses as it raised the production of the anti-viral cytokine, interferon-α/β. (2) Vitamin C is quite influential! Dr. Butwell encourages use of vitamin C.
VITAMIN D TO REDUCE INFECTION RISK
An influential research paper in Nutrients reports that options to reduce infection spread are in demand and states vitamin D as a viable option. Vitamin D reduces respiratory tract infection risk. How? It makes cathelicidins and defensins which can lower replication rates of viruses, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that inflame and injure the lining of the lungs, and increase anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be helpful to reduce respiratory tract infection risk. How? Researchers recommended that persons at-risk of infection ingest 10,000 IU per day of vitamin D3 for a few weeks to get the 25(OH)D concentrations up initially then consuming 5000 IU per day. If someone has an infection already, higher doses of vitamin D3 may be useful. (3) Vitamin D is quite influential!
…ADD NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PLAN
The published data is there to be influential when it comes to making recommendations for health. Much has been published in the medical literature about the importance of nutrition and the immune system’s optimal function. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate (B9) along with trace elements like iron, copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium are key contributors also to a robust immune system that can adapt to various threats. Deficiencies of many of these nutrients is global, leaving many not capable of resisting infections. Authors wrote specifically that Vitamin D deficiency contributed to increased risk for respiratory infection. Several research papers described that vitamin D supplementation decreased the risk of such infections in adults and children. With such information, authors of a recent review of the literature about vitamins and immunity and respiratory infections said that they strongly urge public health officials to add nutritional recommendations – even taking more than the “recommended dietary allowance” (RDA) within recommended upper safety limits for specific ones like C and D - to their list of guidelines to better public health and restrict the effects of seasonal and other such viruses. (4)
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox about chiropractic care and the immune system on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson.
Schedule your Georgetown chiropractic appointment with [[compayname]] today. Building a strong immune system may be the best offense against infection as no one likes living with infection 24/7! Go vitamin C! Go vitamin D! Georgetown chiropractic care includes nutrition, exercise and spinal manipulation to take care of our Georgetown chiropractic patients, family and friends.
