Years of research have documented advantageous
actions of the hormone, vitamin D, on the skeleton, inflammation,
cancer, metabolic issues,
auto-immunity, endocrinopathies, and now adrenal diseases, diabetes,
thyroiditis, and others. (1) Vitamin D’s reputation continues
getting better! Researchers today are evaluating
vitamin D’s impacts 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 lesser incidence of
pain over 5 years plus to frequency of pain, severity, and
number of pain locations. (3) What about vitamin D and San Jose back pain, a common
problem that influences millions of people globally? Lately, research has shown
that there may be a connection between low levels of
vitamin D and back pain. While the proof is still early,
it is important for our San Jose chiropractic
patients and Chiropractic Solutions to understand what this potential
connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that assists
your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps keep bones healthy
and strong by keeping 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 provides natural sources of vitamin D—its
ultraviolet rays transform cholesterol in the skin into vitamin
D3 which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and are deposited
in fat tissues. Even in winter in San Jose, sunlight is
beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with lower
levels of vitamin D may be more likely to experience
chronic back pain than those with better levels of vitamin D. One
study examined the association between biomarkers
(such as vitamin D) and pain in acute and subacute low back pain patients over
time via comparison of biomarkers at baseline to differences
in patient-reported results at three months’ follow-up.
The results showed that those who had lower
levels of vitamin D were more likely to experience higher levels of
disability correlated with their low back pain at follow-up
than those who had better levels of vitamin D at baseline.
(2) What’s your San Jose 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 enhanced levels of the nutrient. This
could indicate a link between low vitamin D
level and heightened odds for chronic or recurrent bouts
of back pain. (2) Chiropractic Solutions 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 Chiropractic Solutions
Overall, there is evidence suggesting 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. Schedule your San Jose
chiropractic appointment with Chiropractic Solutions, your partner
in spinal health.