IV Nutritional Therapy

1. What is IV Nutrient Therapy and how does it work?

IV stands for intravenous – meaning that something is being introduced directly into the vein. In this case we are introducing nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids into the vein – allowing for instant access to your cells. This is in contrast to taking vitamins in a pill form orally. When we take a pill form of a vitamin we are limited to the absorption by our gut. If we have a perfectly functioning digestive system then we would hopefully have maximum absorption in the gut, but our gut has limits to how much can be absorbed. Let’s use vitamin C for instance. The most common dose for vitamin C in oral supplement form ranges between 500mg to 1000mg. The absorption inside the gut is saturated at about 400mg of vitamin C – that means that in the average individual, you will only absorb about 50% of the 1000mg dose of vitamin C that you are taking daily. When using vitamin C intravenously we have the ability to administer anything from a small dose of 500mg up to an extremely large dose of 75 grams of vitamin C per infusion. Because this form is delivered intravenously, plasma and tissue levels of vitamin C will be able to be much higher than that of oral dosing. One use for vitamin C is with immune related conditions. The antiviral effect of vitamin C has been demonstrated at a concentration of 15mg/dL, a level achievable with IV but not oral therapy.

2. What specific conditions benefit from IV therapy?

A. URI/Colds/Immune system: Vitamin C has important antiviral effects when used intravenously. There is a combination cocktail called a Myers cocktail that has been researched and used extensively for use with colds, flus, URIs, and sinus infections. When administered at the onset of a cold or flu it has been shown to shorten the severity and the duration of the cold, with a majority of people feeling marked improvement either immediately or by the next morning. Personally, this has been the therapy that I utilize for myself – at the very first sign of any symptom associated with a cold or sinus infection – I get a myers cocktail and every single time, if caught early enough, I wake up the next morning feeling better than ever!

B. Digestive disturbances: There are so many people with imbalances and disturbances in their gut health and one of the secondary effects to this is that over time they will not be absorbing the nutrients that a normally functioning gut membrane does. Systemically we may see signs of B12 deficiency, magnesium deficiency and this relates back to the fact that their gut has been so imbalanced that they no longer have the ability to take in these vitamins and minerals. A supplemental pill form will not do much good for these people. IV nutrients however will make a huge difference for them.

C. Asthma Support: Hawaii traditionally has the highest rates of asthma in the entire US, with the highest mortality rate as well. Recent numbers show that close to 10% of the adult population suffers from asthma here in Hawaii. I have a number of patients who suffer from chronic asthma, some of them are well managed with medication and some of them even with plenty of medication continue to suffer. There is a specific Asthma IV bag that I have been using with great success for these patients. For patients who are able to control their asthma with medications we have successfully used this therapy to be able to decrease their medication needs. For patients who despite a number of different medications still seem to have attacks with environmental triggers we have been able to manage the acute attacks and prevent an emergency room visit or prevent another round of steroid treatment. The benefits of the IV take effect almost immediately and by the end of treatment the patient feels a relief in their asthma symptoms. I always listen to the lungs before and after treatment and do a few other in-office tests to check lung function and I routinely see all markers improve after the Asthma IV bag.

D. Sports Recovery: This is useful  for all kinds of athletes - everyone from your weekend warrior to the elite triathlon trained athletes. For all of you, there are IV nutrients that can make a clear difference in your performance and your recovery. Research shows that elite athletes do experience a higher level of oxidative stress as a result of the intense exercise that they perform. The body does have its own system to help mitigate oxidative stress, but there are certain nutrients that can aid in that process. Glutathione is the king of antioxidants. It is the primary nutrient that is depleted post-exercise and the number one ingredient used in all of my sports recovery formulas. The key aspect to understand about glutathione is that because it is a potent antioxidant, it is by its very nature, highly prone to breakdown. This makes it a very lousy supplement in a pill – it has no shelf-life or stability and is therefore only successfully applied in either intravenous form or nebulized form (inhaling it through the lungs).

3. Can a patient call and schedule an appointment for IV therapy?

Yes, however specific labwork must be done prior to receiving any intravenous therapy. It is important to check markers for kidney function, electrolyte balance, liver function and blood cell parameters. Patients can either bring in recent labs that have already been performed or we can order them for you and screen to make sure you are a good candidate for IV therapy.