Taking vitamins intravenously, such as an Vitamin C IV drip, has been gaining momentum and popularity. Our digestive system is inefficient, so many crucial nutrients we take in orally are not adequately absorbed. Thus, it is far more effective to take large doses of vitamins intravenously and bypass the digestive system for maximum absorption.
As a result, Vitamin C IV drip is being considered as an effective way to turbo-boost immunity and fight oxidative stress from exposure to free radicals in our environment and food.
When free radicals accumulate in our bodies at a pace that’s quicker than our ability to get rid of them, we end up with an overload that damages our cells. This is called oxidative stress and it's a major factor in virtually every disease. Heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and so many more problems, can all be attributed to oxidative stress.
Why is Vitamin C So Important?
Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is one of the powerhouse vitamins that our body needs continuously for optimal health. Necessary for growth, development, and repair of all body tissue, it is a powerful antioxidant that:
Is needed for our bodies to produce collagen, L-Carnitine (transports fats to the cells for energy), and many neurotransmitters
Vital for the maintenance of teeth, cartilage, and bones
Aids in wound healing
Regenerates other antioxidants, like Vitamin E
Has been shown to help treat, prevent, or delay the development of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments caused by oxidative stress
Speeds up recovery time
Plays a vital role in immune function
Improves the absorption of plant-based iron
Unlike other animals, we cannot produce Vitamin C Ourselves
When an animal faces danger, is injured, or ill, their bodies immediately respond by producing Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Unfortunately, humans lost that ability as they evolved, and our bodies are unable to produce Vitamin C on their own. As a result, we must get this essential nutrient through food and supplements, when necessary.
How Much Vitamin C Do We Need?
Generally, a healthy adult male requires about 300mg of Vitamin C in its usable form - ascorbic acid - each day. If the person is a smoker, they require more.
Any less and you run the risk of scurvy, which is characterized by fatigue, depression, widespread connective tissue weakness, bleeding gums, teeth falling out, and capillary fragility. Getting inadequate levels of ascorbic acid can also lead to iron deficiency anemia, bone disease, joint pain, and poor wound healing. Many people with severe vitamin C deficiency die of infection due to a poorly functioning immune system.
Can I Get Enough Vitamin C Without Supplementing?
Generally, we can get the required daily amount of Vitamin C through the food we eat.
However, when our bodies are fighting illness, healing from an injury, experiencing stress, or are exposed to higher levels of oxidative stress it requires even higher doses of this powerhouse antioxidant.
Our body’s demand for Vitamin C fluctuates constantly and can range from 75mg to 2000mg, and more, at any given point in the day. In addition, it can be hard to know how much ascorbic acid is actually being absorbed from our diet and we may not always recognize when more is needed. Oral supplements can help ensure that our bodies are getting ample ascorbic acid throughout the day.
In fact, studies found that oral doses of ascorbic acid provide about two times higher amounts than you would receive from vitamin C-rich foods. Which is another reason supplementing with oral Vitamin C is beneficial.
Can I Take Too Much Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is water soluble. Any excess our body receives, beyond what it needs at that time, will be eliminated through urine. For most people, ingesting very large amounts of Vitamin C (2000 - 6000mg) is perfectly safe. The rule of thumb when taking Vitamin C supplements is to take as much as your bowels can handle.
When trying to boost your immune or healing response, the question is whether you should go with high doses of oral supplements or IV drip vitamin C. Here are some downsides of oral supplementation to consider.
7 Downsides of Taking Vitamin C Oral Supplements
Oral supplements are an easy and effective way to ensure we are giving our bodies the amount of Vitamin C throughout the day. However, it has downsides worth considering.
1. Poor absorption:
Approximately 70%–90% of vitamin C is absorbed when getting only 30–180 mg/day. At doses above 1000 mg/day, absorption falls to less than 50%.
And, if you have digestive issues, the amount being absorbed is even less.
2. Ineffective absorption at higher doses
At doses above 1000 mg/day, absorption falls to less than 50%. And, even if taking oral supplements, which have double the absorption rate, you are only absorbing 75% of what you are taking at best.
3. Too much Vitamin C in the Digestive System Can Actually Make You Sick
Depending on your tolerance levels, ingesting high quantities of ascorbic acid may cause:
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Heartburn
Abdominal cramps
Headache
Insomnia
Painful urine
Pink/bloody urine
4. It can cause kidney stones and injury
If you have kidney problems, getting too much Vitamin C can cause your oxalates to skyrocket which can lead to kidney stones. If you have G6PD (a crucial red blood cell protecting enzyme) deficiency, taking high doses of Vitamin C can cause kidney injury. Consult your doctor before increasing your intake of Vitamin C.
5. You could have a severe allergic reaction
Although it is rare, you could have a very serious allergic reaction to taking oral Vitamin C supplements. If you experience a rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing, consult a doctor immediately.
6. It can cause adverse effects when combined with other medications
Taking Vitamin C supplements can have an adverse effect when taken with other herbal or pharmaceutical medications. It can even prevent other medications from working at all. Consult with your doctor.
7. Vitamin C oral supplements may not have any effect when undergoing some medical treatments
Oral ascorbic acid supplements may not be well-tolerated or beneficial when undergoing certain medical treatments. Studies found that patients with cancer, for example, did not benefit at all from receiving oral supplements of ascorbic acid. Regardless of the dosage, their ascorbic acid levels did not increase.
Benefits of Vitamin C IV Drip
Taking a Vitamin C IV drip is the only way for patients fighting inflammatory illnesses and diseases caused by oxidative stress, like cancer, to absorb the quantities they need for healing and recovery.
Recent studies found that cancer patients who received ascorbic acid by IV experienced measurable improvement in their recovery speed and immune function. There is also evidence that cancer patients who received IV drip Vitamin C therapy experienced longer survival times.
In order to get those kinds of results, it is necessary to increase ascorbic levels in the plasma to extremely high levels. The only way to achieve the required concentration levels is by administering high doses of vitamin C intravenously.
Not only can IV drip Vitamin C speed up recovery and healing, but lab tests suggest that extremely high doses of Vitamin C is toxic to cancer cells and actually destroys them.
But IV Vitamin C therapy is not just for treating diseases caused by oxidative stress and speeding recovery during treatments for diseases like heart disease, inflammatory illnesses, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. It is also beneficial for maintaining optimal health because it maximizes absorption while minimizing the negative effects that high doses can cause.
To learn more about the benefits of IV therapy vs. oral supplementation, read Is IV Therapy Worth It?
So Is An Vitamin C IV Drip Right for Me?
Generally, you can receive that vital daily dose of Vitamin C through a nutrient-rich diet and oral supplements of 400mg to 1000mg three times daily for general health.
If you are under the weather, stressed, have a cold sore or other virus, take as much as your bowels can tolerate - 1000mg to 1500mg three times daily.
When seeking a super-boost of this mighty antioxidant, the most effective way is through Vitamin C IV therapy. If you need oxidative stress related disease and disorder-fighting levels,Vitamin C IV therapy has
proven positive results.
IV administration is the only way to get high doses of Vitamin C directly into the blood, enabling it to fight free radicals, viruses, heal, and boost immunity at a rate that is impossible when taken orally.