Juneau Back Pain and Vitamin D: What to Know
Years of research have detailed beneficial activities 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 keeps getting better! Researchers today are testing vitamin D’s impacts on biomarkers like CRP, NPY, TNF-alpha, etc., after spinal manipulation and medical care. (2) In older adults who tend to not always take the recommended amount of vitamin D, researchers found that even a marginally enhanced intake of vitamin D was linked to 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 Juneau back pain, a common problem that affects 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 proof is still early, it’s important for our Juneau chiropractic patients and Aurora Chiropractic Center to grasp what this possible connection could mean for those suffering from chronic back pain.
WHAT IS VITAMIN D?
Vitamin D is a crucial nutrient that assists your body absorb calcium from the food you eat. It also helps bones stay strong and healthy by keeping them from becoming 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 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 Juneau, sunlight is beneficial!
HOW CAN VITAMIN D HELP WITH BACK PAIN?
Research suggests that those with decreased levels of vitamin D may be more prone to experience chronic back pain than those with optimal levels of vitamin D. One study 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 results at three months’ follow-up. The results showed that those who had decreased 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 higher levels of vitamin D at the start. (2) Do you know your Juneau 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 adequate levels of the nutrient. This could suggest a link between low vitamin D level and heightened risk for chronic or recurrent episodes of back pain. (2) Aurora Chiropractic Center 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 adequate nutrition in the management of a patient with 3 disc herniations via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Aurora Chiropractic Center
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 us talk about your vitamin D level. Schedule your Juneau chiropractic appointment with Aurora Chiropractic Center, your partner in spinal health.
