Intravenous vitamin formulations:
It
is a method of giving high concentrations of vitamins and minerals
directly into the bloodstream, allowing rapid absorption of higher doses
thereof than if a person obtained them through food or nutritional
supplements. It has spread widely in the recent period and its types
have varied.
The Mechanism:
These
formulations are given through a small tube inserted into a vein, and
are called a “vitamin cocktail.” The types and proportions of vitamins
in these formulations vary depending on their purpose.
Efficacy of intravenous vitamin formulations:
It
is commonly used intravenously for people who cannot get enough
vitamins and minerals, either because they cannot eat enough food, or
because they have a medical condition that impedes the absorption of
nutrients within the body, but:
- Few studies have been
conducted testing the effectiveness of these formulations in people who
do not have vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and none have confirmed the
effectiveness of these formulations.
- The evidence for the use
of these formulations in the treatment of patients with malabsorption
problems, burns, or serious infectious diseases is unclear.
Accordingly,
the effectiveness of these formulations is based on rumors and people's
individual stories, which is not considered strong evidence for its
use.
Possible side effects of intravenous vitamin formulations:
- It can make the body more susceptible to infection and can cause blood clots and burning at the injection site.
- Exposing
the liver and kidneys to large amounts of vitamins can put them under
great pressure, leading to problems and disruption of their functions.
- Injecting
a high dose of the vitamin with nutrients can increase the fluid load
in the blood in patients with high blood pressure or heart disease;
Which exposes them to temporary and sometimes permanent kidney or heart
damage.
- Giving these combinations too quickly may result in low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
- Taking high doses of some vitamins and minerals has negative side effects and increases the risk of developing some conditions.
Recommendations:
Vitamins
and minerals are nutrients that the body needs in small quantities to
function properly and remain healthy. They are found naturally in
various foods, so it is recommended that most people get all the
nutrients they need by following a varied and balanced diet. Eating a
wide range of healthy foods helps meet nutritional needs, and also
provides additional benefits (such as: dietary fiber and antioxidants).
Current
scientific evidence has not confirmed the health effects of using
intravenous vitamin formulations in healthy people, and the safety of
their use is unclear.
Examples of some foods that enhance the body's need for certain vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin E: found in nuts, green leafy vegetables, and fortified grains.
- Folic acid: found in spinach, lettuce, broccoli, peanuts, avocados, enriched grain products, and fortified breakfast cereals.
- Vitamin B6: Found in bananas, beef, fish, chicken, fortified cereals, whole grains, nuts, and beans.
- Vitamin B12: Found abundantly in milk, dairy products, meat, fish (especially salmon), poultry, and eggs.
- A
form of vitamin A, known as beta-carotene, found in yellow and orange
fruits (such as cantaloupe and mango), and green leafy vegetables (such
as spinach).
- Iron: It is found in red meat (such as: beef and
chicken), seafood such as fatty fish, oysters, and eggs, and in beans,
and dark green leafy vegetables (such as: spinach).