Immune Function

Adapted from an article by Dr Christopher Kent.

There is increasing evidence to support the chiropractic theory that adjustments help to improve immune system function. When patients have been receiving chiropractic care for a while they often comment on how they seem to get infections less, & when they get an infection it is overcome by their own body more rapidly & efficiently than prior to seeing a Chiropractor.

A recent paper presented by Owen & Rix describes a study that examined the effects of thoracic or lumbar chiropractic adjustments on serum immunoglobin M levels.

The authors wrote: "It is now quite clear that primary & secondary lymphoid organs & tissue receive a direct innervation from the sympathetic nervous system & that cells of the immune system bear specific surface receptors for a wide array of neurotransmitters, neuro-hormones & neuropeptides associated with the SNS.

"These findings are offered as one mechanism whereby the central nervous system may be available for the modulation of immune responses to antigens. The spleen, which makes a major contribution to the serum levels of immunoglobulin M, receives a sympathetic innervation mainly from T6 to T10. Therefore, it was hypothesized that thoracic spinal dysfunction, & any segmentally or regionally associated increased sympathetic tone may result in a down‑regulation of splenic B‑cell activity & a lowering of serum IgM."

Put more simply, if there is problems in your mid to lower back, then your immune system may be suppressed.

The investigators recruited 60 healthy students for the study. 1/3 served as controls, while the remaining 2/3 were examined from T6 to T10, L4 & L5, & the Sacro-Iliac joints using static & motion palpation. Depending on the findings, these subjects were assigned to receive thoracic or lumbar/SI specific adjustments. The intervention period was 2 weeks, which began 2 weeks after the initial examination. A total of 35 subjects completed the study.

Serum IgM levels were measured prior to any intervention, & at days 30 & 37. Day 30 was 4 days after the last chiropractic adjustment; day 37 was 11 days after the last adjustment.

The group receiving the thoracic adjustments showed an 11% increase in serum IgM levels on the 30th day, which increased to 22% on day 37. These changes were statistically significant. The lumbar/SI group had a 2% increase on day 30, & a 16% increase on day 37. This was not found to be statistically significant. There was no statistically significant change in the control group.

The authors concluded that the rise in IgM levels that persisted several days after the last session of thoracic diversified technique appeared to be consistent with the sympathetic innervation to the spleen.

It is gratifying to see that clinical evidence is emerging which is helping to clarify the mechanisms by which chiropractic care may affect immune system activity.

Hopefully, we will see more studies exploring the relationship of chiropractic adjustment to immune function. Such studies would be strengthened by the addition of objective assessments of somatic & autonomic activity, such as surface electromyography & skin temperature differential analysis.

So, if late winter & early spring is your danger time for those annoying colds & flus, it may be time to consider more regular chiropractic adjustments as part of your health care regimen.

Further reading:

1. Kent C: Neuroimmunology - An update. http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2001/aug/aug2001kent.htm

2. Kent C: The mental impulse ‑ Biochemical & immunologic aspects. http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/1999/feb/feb1999kent.htm

3. Kent C: 2 "supersystems". http://www.worldchiropracticalliance.org/tcj/2003/may/may2003kent.htm

(Dr. Christopher Kent, president of the Council on Chiropractic Practice, is a 1973 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. The WCA's "Chiropractic Researcher of the Year" in 1994, & recipient of that honor from the ICA in 1991, he was also named ICA "Chiropractor of the Year" in 1998. He is director of research & a co-founder of Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. With Dr. Patrick Gentempo, Jr., Dr. Kent produces a monthly audio series, "On Purpose," covering current events in science, politics & philosophy of vital interest to the practicing chiropractor.)