There has been a growing trend of people receiving IV Vitamin Treatments in recent years. These infusions have become so popular special IV clinics have opened to provide them known as ‘drip bars.’ Some providers are even arranging to do house calls as part of a concierge service. None of these therapies have been approved by the FDA, and no insurance company provides coverage for them. At a rate of up to $300 for a 30-60 minute treatment, one question should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Are they effective, are they safe, or is it all a sham?
The Hegemony of the IV Infusion In Trending Culture
The history of the IV Vitamin Infusion can be traced back to John Myers in the 1960s. The purpose of these treatments was to relieve patients with fibromyalgia, migraines, and asthma attacks. The specific cocktail designed by Myers was studied and showed no meaningful benefit for those receiving it. In the years that followed, the use of this cocktail fell out of practice due to these findings. However, there has been a recent resurgence. So what’s changed?
The answer, unfortunately, is hype, and it is becoming trendy. No studies have suddenly overturned the data provided from earlier ones. What has happened is celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, and Chrissy Teigen began backing them for everything from curing hangovers, reversing aging, and boosting energy. The shadier clinics will even state that it can improve the body’s ability to fight cancer, ease heart disease, manage diabetes, and other false claims. Below are some claims that experts debunk:
- Vitamin C Doesn’t Help Colds – This vitamin has had a long reputation for preventing colds and helping us recover from them. There is no scientifically backed evidence suggesting this is the case. Large-scale trials show there’s no evidence supporting this claim at all. This is one claim commonly made by these infusion clinics.
- Vitamin B3 and NAD+ – These two infusion components promote brain health. While there is evidence that reduced levels of these are associated with Alzheimer’s and brain aging, this doesn’t go both ways. This means that restoring these levels or maintaining them through infusion doesn’t actually promote brain health. Aging is a complex process, and a simple infusion isn’t going to address the related issues.
These are just two myths these clinics have built their claims on. These claims are just one of the ways they influence their patrons into spending thousands of dollars. There’s a darker component to this, however.
Vitamin Infusions Can Be Harmful
This is something that these clinics don’t mention in their advertising and likely hide in their disclaimers. While vitamins are essential to our healthy function and can even be lifesaving in some cases, there are limits. Receiving excessive amounts of vitamins can result in toxicity and may not occur immediately. Some vitamins are fat-soluble and stored in the liver or muscles. When these levels go above safe values, the result can be dangerous. Eating healthily, exercising, and seeing your physician regularly are your best steps to staying healthy. Talk to them before taking any kind of supplement.
