The Truth About IV Nutrition Therapy

IV nutrition therapy is the new craze sweeping Hollywood. An IV is not just for sick people nor is it only found in a hospital. IV nutrition therapy has introduced a new form of vitamin and mineral supplementation that can be utilized by anyone, regardless of health condition, age, or other barriers.

The procedure, which involves injecting vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, has recently become more popular among celebrities who claim that it helps them feel energized and healthy. However, many people are wondering if the benefits of IV nutrition therapy are legitimate or simply a trend that celebrities are jumping on.

The answer is complicated. While there are no studies to back up claims made by celebrities about how IVs make them feel better, there is some evidence that intravenous vitamin therapy can be beneficial for certain conditions when administered by a doctor who has been trained to administer these types of treatments.

What is IV nutrition therapy? 

In the medical world, IV stands for “intravenous” meaning the fluids and nutrients being delivered through an IV are directly entering the bloodstream. IV nutrition therapy is not just a single injection, but rather an infusion that lasts for a prolonged period sometimes referred to as “drips”. Typically, nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids are used in nutrition infusions. 

How does IV nutrition therapy work? 

Nutrients obtained through food or supplements are absorbed into the bloodstream by first going through the digestive process in which they must be broken down, transported, absorbed, and stored. IV nutrition therapy bypasses the digestive process to allow the nutrients to directly enter the bloodstream guaranteeing that nearly everything is absorbed. This route of supplementation also permits people with malabsorption disorders to obtain the necessary nutrients for proper body functioning. Nutrition infusions can take as little as 15 minutes to be absorbed into the body and they are often a relaxing experience for many individuals. 

Who can get IV nutrition therapy?

Anyone can receive IV nutrition therapy. Some individuals get nutrition infusions for the purpose of rehydrating themselves for athletic or hangover recovery. Others use nutrition infusions for beautification as many of the nutrients present in these IVs are antioxidants that help combat aging. IV nutrition therapy can also be utilized as an alternative treatment for people with GI absorption disorders such as Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and chronic pancreatitis. 

What types of IV nutrition therapy are there? 

The Myers’ Cocktail was the original IV nutrition formula consisting of high doses of B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. Since the introduction of the Myers’ Cocktail, new types of IV nutrition formulas have emerged. Glutathione has become a popular ingredient in nutrition infusions for its antioxidant role and potential anti-aging benefits. Other types of IV nutrition therapy include immune boosting infusions containing high doses of vitamin C and energy providing formulas with NAD+, a highly important coenzyme for metabolic reactions. Simple saline drips have also been used for rehydration therapy. 

What are the benefits of IV nutrition therapy?

• The best benefit of IV nutrition therapy is the vitamin and mineral absorption guarantee. Since the IV route completely bypasses the GI tract, almost all of the nutrients are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. 
• Rehydration for sports recovery through a saline drip can help athletes who experience severe dehydration. The use of IV fluid infusions of saline has been clinically used for patients with severe dehydration. 
• High doses of vitamin C can help boost the immune system. Evidence suggests that intravenous vitamin C may help with respiratory conditions such as reducing allergy related symptoms and even combating COVID-19. There is a potential for high doses of vitamin C to have antitumor properties and fight off cancer but further research must be done.  
• Slowing down the aging process is another potential benefit of IV nutrition therapy. One study shows significant anti-aging results after using injections of amino acids, vitamins, hyaluronic acid, and carbon dioxide. 
• Providing energy, fighting fatigue, and mitigating the effects of chronic disease are all benefits of supplementing with NAD+. In one study, intravenous infusions of NAD+ were shown to significantly raise NAD+ serum levels and reduce excretion, meaning high absorption was achieved through the intravenous method. 
• IV nutrition infusion of vitamin B12 can be a gentler, alternative treatment for vitamin B12 absorption disorders as opposed to intramuscular injections. 

Are there any risks to IV nutrition therapy? 

• The dosage of vitamins and minerals in IV nutrition formulas may be at a toxic level for people who are not sick or suffering from malabsorption. Micronutrient toxicity can lead to a long list of adverse side effects. One example is that high doses of vitamin C can be a risk factor for kidney disease and gout as excessive vitamin C increases oxalic and uric acid formation. 
• If the correct balance of minerals are not achieved in the infusion, an electrolyte imbalance can occur, leading to a loss in homeostasis. Ironically, nutrient deficiencies can result from imbalanced IV formulas which is the exact opposite purpose of IV nutrition therapy. 
• The speed of infusion is important because administering an infusion too quickly can result in adverse reactions. For instance, magnesium infused too fast can cause a drop in blood pressure which may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and be accompanied by excessive warmth. 
• There is limited evidence for vitamin and mineral IV infusions for mainstream use. IV nutrition therapy is primarily used in a clinical setting and is called “parenteral nutrition”. 

Would you recommend IV nutrition therapy? There is definitely no question that IV nutrition therapy is legitimate for clinical use as it has been used to treat acute care patients for decades. However, it is difficult to justify the research based on sick patients for healthy individuals since there is such a vast difference in the nutrient digestion and absorption of these two populations. It is important to note that the nutrition infusion that started it all, the Myers’ Cocktail, did not even show statistically significant health benefits before the trend kicked off and evolved into the plethora of nutrition infusions there are today. There is still little evidence today to support the efficacy of the Myers’ Cocktail along with other nutrient infusions. Mainstream use of IV nutrition therapy may not be entirely supported by science, but there is proof that it can be beneficial if the correct dosage and proper formulas are used. If you are interested in IV nutrition therapy, make sure the provider is a trained healthcare professional with extensive knowledge and experience with IV therapy.