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

ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the effects of short-term and long-term chiropractic care on serum thiol levels in asymptomatic subjects.

Summary of background data: Serum thiols are a measure of human health status. It is a surrogate estimate of DNA repair enzyme activity, most notably poly ADP – ribose polymerase or PARP.

While it is suggested that chiropractic care improves general health, the effect of chiropractic care on serum thiol levels has not been investigated.

Methods: A case controlled retrospective analysis. Serum thiol levels in patients with active disease (N=46) were compared with serum thiol levels in primary wellness subjects with 8-52 weeks of chiropractic care (N=21) and those who had been under chiropractic care for 52-312 weeks (N=25).

Patients were age matched to be 40 years of age or older.

Results: There were statistically significant differences in the serum thiol levels of the three groups. Mean serum thiol levels were lowest in patients with active disease as well as patients
with initial musculoskeletal complaints.

Asymptomatic subjects under chiropractic care demonstrated higher mean serum thiol levels than patients with active disease. Mean serum thiol levels were highest in the group with 52-312 weeks of chiropractic care.

Conclusion: Asymptomatic 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.