Wellness and Chiropractic Care: Supporting the Body’s Natural Function

Chiropractors have long focused on supporting the body’s ability to function at its best. With advances in science, especially in the field of genetics, researchers are now able to study biological markers that reflect how well the body repairs and regenerates. One such marker is serum thiol, a compound linked to DNA repair activity and considered an indicator of overall health status.

A study examined serum thiol levels in different groups of people, including those with chronic health conditions, those receiving short-term chiropractic care, and those who had been under long-term wellness chiropractic care. The results showed that individuals receiving regular chiropractic care over a longer period tended to have higher levels of serum thiol—suggesting improved adaptive capacity and potential resilience. While more research is needed, these findings point to a possible connection between long-term chiropractic care and the body’s ability to maintain and regulate its internal processes effectively.

Summary:
This study evaluated whether chiropractic care influences the body’s regenerative ability by measuring serum thiol levels, a recognized marker of DNA repair and overall health. Serum thiols reflect the activity of DNA repair enzymes such as poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and low levels are associated with chronic illness and degeneration, while higher levels indicate greater physiological resilience and vitality.

Researchers compared three groups of individuals over 40 years of age:

  1. Patients with active disease (N=46),

  2. Patients who had received chiropractic care for 8–52 weeks (N=21),

  3. Patients under long-term chiropractic care for 52–312 weeks (N=25).

The findings showed a statistically significant difference in serum thiol levels among the groups. Patients with active disease had the lowest levels, followed by those with short-term care. Those receiving long-term chiropractic wellness care had the highest serum thiol levels—some even above normal wellness values. This suggests a potential positive effect of regular chiropractic care on the body's natural healing and regenerative processes.

Key Findings:

  • Serum thiol levels were lowest in individuals with active disease.

  • Short-term chiropractic patients had moderately higher thiol levels.

  • Long-term chiropractic wellness patients had the highest thiol levels—some exceeding typical wellness norms.

  • These results support the idea that chiropractic care may contribute to improved DNA repair and overall physiological function.

Source:
Surrogate Indication of DNA Repair in Serum After Long Term Chiropractic Intervention – A Retrospective Study