Although elective vitamin IV drips are a relatively new phenomenon, due to their effectiveness they are growing exponentially in popularity.

Internal vitamin deficiencies, stress, exposure to environmental toxins and dehydration, can all add up to a lackluster appearance.  The effects of topical treatments and diet should certainly not be ignored, but sometimes a vitamin IV can reestablish equilibrium faster than oral supplementation or diet alone.

While there have been a great deal of studies on one of the original IV therapies – Meyer’s Cocktail¹, the medical community is still undecided on the benefits of more modern day equivalents when it comes to elective IVs. However, our anecdotal evidence could not be stronger; most patients report not only loving the way they feel after an IV drip but also how they look.

These are a few of the ingredients which can help put a smile on your face when you look in the mirror after your treatment:

GLUTATHIONE

Proven to support the liver and kidneys, detoxify the body of heavy metals, and decrease the severity of age related illness², glutathione is something of a wonder antioxidant³. Supplementation of this antioxidant has been shown to decrease wrinkles, improve elasticity and increase skin clarity and brightness. When given alongside other vitamins it increases their effectiveness (which is why it is often administered alongside vitamin C).

VITAMIN C

The antioxidant effects of vitamin C has been widely studied and can have a noticeable affect on how the skin looks. One effect is the suppression of melanin production⁴, meaning a gradual lightening of pigmentation spots. Vitamin C is also a key component in collagen production⁵ – indeed the protein cannot properly form without it. Finally, through active oxygen removal, skin is protected from free radicals and active oxygen that can cause acne, wrinkles, and blemishes⁶.

COLLAGEN

This protein is the most abundant element of skin, giving it its structure and firmness. Collagen in IV form can help replenish that found in the skin, alongside vitamin C which encourages the formation of more⁷. Collagen is rendered ineffective when taken orally since it is broken down into its amino acid components in the gut⁸. It is also too large of a molecule to be absorbed into the skin topically⁹ making IV administration the best method of administering the ingredient to the skin and joints.

As with most ingredients, too much of one element is not beneficial to our health. With antioxidants, an overabundance opens the possibility that the antioxidant will become an oxidant itself. Glutathione helps in this regard, and the dosage schedule is also important.

The Health Department does not regulate the distribution of vitamins and other supplements as they regulate medicines.

1. （Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the “Myers’ Cocktail”，2002）
2. （Glutathione and morbidity in a community-based sample of elderly，1994）
3. （Mitochondrial glutathione: features, regulation and role in disease，2013）
4. （Vitamin C in dermatology，2013）
5. （Role of Micronutrients in Skin Health and Function，2015）
6. （The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health，2017）
7. （Vitamin C in dermatology，2013）
8.   (Collagen: An implausible supplement for joint pain, 2017)
9. (Is Soluble Collagen Effective for Skin Care?, 2017)