The answer could very well be yes! A study conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of Lund found that long term Chiropractic care had a positive effect on the physiological processes around oxidative stress and aging. As a brief background, oxidative stress is the damaging effects of molecules known as 'free radicals' on our body's cells and DNA. (Everyone's heard of 'anti-oxidants' in everything from food, vitamins and even beauty products. Well 'anti-oxidants' help to combat the damaging effects of free radicals.) This type of stress and damage, particularly on DNA, is believed to play a major role in human aging.
This study published in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, reveals some insight on how and why Chiropractic treatments can have a beneficial impact, on a cellular level. The researchers in the study measured levels of serum thiol in the participants. Serum thiols are primary anti-oxidants in the body and are used as a measure of human health status. The test provides a surrogate estimate of DNA repair enzyme activity, which has been shown to correlate with lifespan and aging.
Participants were divided into two separate groups. One group of 21 patients were under short term Chiropractic care and 25 patients were under long term care. These two groups were compared to 30 people who underwent no Chiropractic care. Long-term chiropractic care of two or more years was shown to re-establish a normal physiological state independent of age, sex, or nutritional supplements. Symptom-free or primary wellness subjects under chiropractic care demonstrated higher mean serum thiol levels than patients with active disease, and produced some values that were higher than normal wellness values.
"Oxidative stress, metabolically generating free radicals, is now a broadly accepted theory of how we age and develop disease," Dr. Christopher Kent explained. "Oxidative stress results in DNA damage, and inhibits DNA repair. DNA repair is the mechanism which fixes the damage caused by environmental impact."
Now although this study was conducted on a relatively small sample size, the findings are very intriguing indeed. It should spark interest into repeating the study on more people to see if the results could be re-created.
As many of my patients have come to realize, Chiropractic isn't just an option to address pain and discomfort but it really is one of the most beneficial natural therapies available for overall health. That's why many patients come in to see me on a regular basis, whether it be once a month or a few times a year. They realize it's always easier to stay healthy than to fix something once it's 'broken'.
Like this article? leave a comment. In the Commercial Drive neighborhood of East Vancouver? Visit my office or my website; COMMERCIAL DRIVE - EAST VANCOUVER CHIROPRACTOR; DR. DOMINIC CHAN DC!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment