Benefits of Vitamin C IV Therapy

Benefits of Vitamin C IV Therapy

What does vitamin C do?

Vitamin C benefits your immune system, contributes to wound healing, helps your body absorb iron, and assists with forming collagen. It is an antioxidant and protects against toxins like pollution. Research has shown:

  • Vitamin C boosts your blood’s antioxidant levels so your natural defenses are better at fighting inflammation. This may reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease.
  • Vitamin C has been shown to help reduce blood pressure, another risk factor for heart disease.
  • Vitamin C treatments may help people who suffer from gout, by reducing the amount of uric acid in the blood and helping protect against painful gout attacks.
  • Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron better, reducing the risk of anemia.
  • Vitamin C may protect thinking and memory functions as the years advance. As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C combats oxidative stress in the brain and nerves. Low levels of vitamin C have been linked to impaired memory and cognitive performance.
  • Vitamin C protects pregnant women against prenatal health problems such as anemia, and it supports the baby’s growth and immune system.
  • Vitamin C has been shown to help prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
  • Vitamin C protects skin against wrinkling, discoloration and other signs of aging and helps regenerate the skin by increasing collagen formation.
  • Vitamin C helps reduce mental and physical symptoms of stress.
  • Vitamin C can inhibit the growth of some cancerous tumors by removing free radicals responsible for fueling tumor growth.

A quick and easy IV hydration therapy with high-dose vitamin C offers relief from mood changes, stress, and sickness.

Vitamin C IV therapy cost

How much does it cost for a vitamin C IV?

If you want to have beautiful skin, you must get plenty of vitamin C.

A Vitamin C Boost costs $150 for a large (1L) bag. Most of our IV treatments include vitamin C as one of the ingredients. You can add extra vitamin C to any treatment for $25.

Save on the cost of a vitamin C drip with IV package pricing – the more you drip, the more you save! We also offer special discounts to returning guests and first-time friends with our Bring a Friend rewards program.

Vitamin C and skin health

Is vitamin C good for your skin?

High levels of vitamin C are found in the epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (middle layer) of healthy skin. Vitamin C does amazing things for your skin, acting as both a protective and healing agent.

Vitamin C is necessary for collagen production and neutralizing free radicals in your skin. Free radicals damage skin, causing wrinkles, discoloration, and other signs of aging.

Vitamin C IV therapy has immediate beneficial effects for your skin. It limits UV damage caused by sun exposure and increases collagen protein synthesis so damaged skin is repaired more quickly.

Worried about dry skin? Studies have shown vitamin C supplements can help repair and prevent both dry skin and dull complexions.

Turn back the clock with our Anti-Aging IV Treatment or add extra vitamin C to the IV therapy of your choice. 

Glutathione & vitamin C: your skin’s two best friends

Glutathione is another nutrient noted for its many skin benefits. Also, a powerful antioxidant, glutathione slows melanin production in cells to help prevent dark spots. Glutathione can even erase the dark spots you already have.

Like vitamin C, glutathione protects your skin from the inside out by eliminating free radicals and toxins caused by UV rays. Learn more about the benefits of glutathione IV treatments or add extra glutathione to any IV therapy for just $25.

Can Vitamin C help acne?

Vitamin C can help acne sufferers by toning down redness and promoting healing.

Vitamin C reduces redness by calming the immune system which releases inflammatory chemicals as a response to acne bacteria. Vitamin C also strengthens capillaries delivering oxygen and nutrients to the basal layer of skin, so less redness shows through.

Vitamin C promotes the production of collagen and elastin, necessary for healing existing acne scars and generating new skin.

What you need to know about vitamin C infusions and cancer

While researchers at Johns Hopkins have shown vitamin C can inhibit the growth of certain tumors, vitamin C IV therapy for cancer remains an extremely popular yet controversial topic.

Can high dose vitamin C IV therapy help people with cancer?

Vitamin C infusions can help people struggling with fatigue, a compromised immune system or recovering from surgery.

Researchers have been studying the effects of high-dose vitamin C as a cancer treatment since the 1970s, but even today there have been no conclusive large-scale controlled clinical trials defining the precise role intravenous vitamin C has in cancer treatment or recovery from cancer treatment side effects.

Scientists are currently studying whether IV vitamin C treatments can boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy.

Because vitamin C IV infusions can help people struggling with fatigue, fighting infections, dealing with a weakened immune system and healing from surgery, vitamin C IV treatments can help cancer survivors and people recovering from the side effects of cancer treatments improve quality of life.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer or are recently in remission, we recommend talking to your doctor before beginning intravenous vitamin infusion treatments.

Is intravenous vitamin C safe?

High dose vitamin C treatments have been studied and proven to be safe and well-tolerated with minimal side effects. While vitamin C has not yet been definitively proven to kill cancer cells, we do know it does not harm healthy cells.

While vitamin C IVs are safe for most patients, there are a couple of very specific risk factors to be aware of:

People with a history of kidney disease or who are predisposed to develop kidney stones should avoid high-dose vitamin C infusions.

People with G6PD deficiency (an inherited genetic disorder affecting red blood cells) or hemochromatosis (a hereditary disorder causing too much iron in the body) are also at risk of adverse effects from high dose vitamin C IV treatments.

Can Vitamin C IV therapy prevent cancer?

While it cannot cure cancer directly, studies have shown that higher levels of Vitamin C in the bloodstream are associated with decreased risk of:

  • Breast Cancer
  • Lung Cancer
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Colon Cancer
  • Liver Cancer

Vitamin C is known to be a powerful antioxidant, reduce cellular inflammation and protect healthy cells from free radical damage. There have not been any definitive clinical trials proving vitamin C helps prevent cancer, however studies have produced evidence of a protective effect of vitamin C, in particular for non-hormone-dependent types of cancer.

Vitamin C and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes an abnormal immune system reaction leading to destruction of cartilage, joint linings and even bone. Researchers have found patients diagnosed with RA are typically deficient in vitamin C.

Because oxidative stress is higher in people with RA, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation can protect the tissues under attack by the disease. Studies have shown high-dose intravenous vitamin C can reduce pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin C is necessary for collagen production. Collagen is not just important for healthy, young-looking skin, it’s the main protein in bone and joint tissue.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the lining of joints, leading to damage and deformity. Studies have shown high-dose vitamin C treatments can reduce the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis such as RA.

Vitamin C not only facilitates collagen production, it is a powerful antioxidant fighting against the molecules triggering inflammation in the joints. Infection is also thought to trigger rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups, and vitamin C plays an important role in fighting off infections.

Vitamin C infusion side effects

What are the side effects of IV vitamin C?

Optimal hydration and vitamin C levels are key to enjoying health and high energy.

Vitamin C IV treatments typically have very mild side effects, if any.

People with certain medical conditions may be at risk of more serious side effects from vitamin C IV therapy, including:

  • People with a history of kidney disorders
  • People with hemochromatosis
  • People with an inherited G-6-PD deficiency

Vitamin C infusions are safe and beneficial for most people.

All IV treatments at the Vitalize Infusion Center are prepared and administered by our nurses and approved by our medical Director, Dr. Ehreema Nadir. The highly experienced medical professionals at the Vitalize Infusion Center are ready to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your treatment.

Vitamin C IV for colds & flu

Does vitamin C boost the immune system?

Vitamin C not only boosts the immune system, it is essential for immune system support and can help protect against immune system deficiencies. Studies have shown vitamin C levels drop when your body is fighting a cold or flu, making it even more important to keep up vitamin C levels when you are feeling under the weather.

All our IV treatments, including Vitamin C Boost, deliver instant hydration and 100% absorption of essential nutrients, electrolytes and other beneficial ingredients. Our Cold & Flu Therapy IV treatment has been specially formulated with vitamin C, zincselenium and other powerful ingredients to help you feel relief from symptoms and fight off illness faster.

Vitamin C dosage

Determining exactly how much vitamin C to take can be difficult because different brands of supplements include different amounts and ingredients. Be sure to carefully read product labels and talk to your doctor.

Vitamin C is water-soluble, and your body doesn’t store extra, so it’s important to get enough vitamin C on a daily basis.

How much vitamin C should I take daily?

Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C from both food and supplements:

Who

Recommended daily intake

Upper limit of intake

Infants 0-6 months

40 mg (Adequate Intake)

Infants 7-12 months

50 mg (Adequate Intake)

Children 1-3 years

15 mg

400 mg

Children 4-8 years

25 mg

650 mg

Children 9-13 years

45 mg

1,200 mg

Girls 14-18 years

65 mg

1,800 mg

Boys 14-18 years

75 mg

1,800 mg

Men over 18

90 mg

2,000 mg

Women over 18

75 mg

2,000 mg

Pregnant women over 18

85 mg

2,000 mg

Breastfeeding women over 18

120 mg

2,000 mg

*U.S. Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine

Do mega doses of vitamin C work?

A megadose of vitamin C goes far beyond the recommended daily upper limit. While unlikely to cause serious harm in most people, consuming too much vitamin C can have adverse side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating, headache, insomnia, and kidney stones.

All our IV treatments are formulated by and given with the direct supervision of Dr. Ehreema Nadir, and administered by experienced nursing staff. If you have any questions or concerns about the optimal level of vitamin C for you, please contact us or simply stop by our hydration clinic.

What foods are high in vitamin C?

Vitamin IV treatments make sure your body absorbs essential nutrients completely.

Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in vitamin C include:

  • Oranges
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Apples
  • Kiwi
  • Guava
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Red bell peppers
  • Kale
  • Spinach

When your body digests food and vitamin C supplements, less than half of the nutrients are absorbed. The way food is grown in the western hemisphere makes it hard to find natural fruit and vegetables with high enough levels of any vitamin to make a significant difference. IV supplementation is often the only option to get high doses of vitamin C directly into the bloodstream. For a more complete boost of vitamin C, contact us for an IV treatment.

Vitamin C and weight loss

Does vitamin C help in weight loss?

Studies have shown that vitamin C levels in the bloodstream are directly related to how well your body burns fat for fuel. This is true during exercise and while at rest.

Since decreasing body fat is typically the goal of weight loss programs, getting plenty of vitamin C is an important step no matter which diet and exercise plan you are following.

Does vitamin C increase metabolism?

Vitamin C can help increase metabolism by counteracting the effects of oxidative stress. As we age, oxidative stress tends to increase, meaning the negative effects get stronger. One of the downsides of increased oxidative stress is a slower metabolism.

Since vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it fights back against oxidative stress and can help raise the metabolism of older adults.

Can vitamin C deficiency cause weight gain?

Low vitamin C levels are one of many possible factors for otherwise unexplained weight gain.

Vitamin C helps prevent weight gain in three ways:

  • Reducing stress hormones
  • Decreasing inflammation
  • Regulating how fat is broken down and used for energy

Making sure you consistently get enough vitamin C is one of many things you can do to maintain a healthy weight.

Getting enough vitamin C on a daily basis supports your training & weight loss efforts.

Vitamin C benefits for athletes

Vitamin C has several benefits important to athletes and anyone with a committed workout routine:

  • Decreases recovery time between training sessions
  • Assists in collagen formation, crucial for repairing connective tissue
  • Helps reverse oxidative damage caused by strenuous exercise
  • Promotes healthy immune function so you can keep your strength up all season

Vitamin C also helps iron absorption – and iron is what allows your red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to all your other tissues.

How much vitamin C should an athlete take?

Athletes should aim to get about double the recommended daily Vitamin C intake for healthy adults. Multiple studies have shown that 200mg daily of vitamin C gives athletes all the benefits of vitamin C without impairing performance – which can happen when athletes consume more than 1g (1000 mg).5

Should I take vitamin C before or after a workout?

When vitamin C is taken after working out, it can help stabilize cortisol levels, which increase during exercise. Cortisol levels will usually go back down soon after a workout, but sometimes they stay elevated, which can lead to higher blood sugar and other detrimental effects.

Studies have mixed results on whether taking vitamin C before working out is helpful or counterproductive.

On the plus side, vitamin C’s antioxidant properties have been shown to reduce soreness and protect against respiratory problems such as infection or exercise-induced asthma.

On the other hand, those same antioxidant properties have resulted in reduced endurance – but only when 1g (1000mg) of vitamin C was consumed daily.

The bottom line is, if you don’t consume too much, taking vitamin C on a regular basis is likely to benefit your exercise regimen.

Vitamin C for allergies

High doses of vitamin C on a regular basis have been shown to improve seasonal allergy symptoms.

Vitamin C is an effective natural treatment for seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis). It works in multiple ways to support overall health and ameliorate allergic response.

Antihistamine

Unlike antihistamine medication which can make you drowsy among other unwanted side effects, vitamin C acts as a natural antihistamine. Taking vitamin C for allergies eases the severity of your symptoms by reducing the amount of histamines in your bloodstream. Vitamin C also fortifies the walls of histamine-containing cells, so they are less likely to rupture and release more histamine.

Antioxidant

Oxidative stress and allergic reactions are intricately linked. Allergens can create more oxidative stress in the body, and oxidative stress can increase your sensitivity to allergens. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and may help treat allergies by preventing cell damage from free radicals.

Anti-inflammatory

Allergy symptoms cause inflammation in the body. This is why you might get a stuffy nose and watery eyes during allergy season – the tissues lining the inside of your nasal passages and eyes become inflamed as part of the allergic response. Research suggests vitamin C decreases inflammation, which is beneficial for allergy symptoms among other conditions.

IV vitamin C delivers optimal results

IV therapy is an ideal way to get extra vitamin C because it is free of artificial colors, flavors and other unwanted additives found in other forms of vitamin C supplements. For best results, begin vitamin C supplementation before allergy season starts so you are prepared for the very first allergy trigger you encounter.

Vitamin C and viral infections

More studies are underway to learn more about the effects of vitamin C on viral infections.

Multiple research studies have shown that high doses of vitamin C:

  • Shorten the duration of colds (a viral infection of the nose and throat)
  • Relieve and prevent cold and flu symptoms12
  • Reduce by 50% the incidence of colds in physically active individuals
  • Prevent pneumonia (a viral lung infection)
  • Act as a beneficial treatment for pneumonia patients

Vitamin C is essential for immune cells to produce the proteins that stimulate a body-wide immune system response against viral attacks.

Does vitamin C have any benefits for preventing or fighting COVID-19?

It has been hypothesized that vitamin C infusions could help improve COVID-19 patient outcomes. More research is needed, and there are clinical trials underway.

Frequently Asked Questions on Vitamin C

What does vitamin C do?

Vitamin C benefits more of the body than you would expect, including your skin, hair, bones, and blood vessels, as well as your energy levels and mood. Vitamin C can help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms by preventing histamine formation.

While some studies show vitamin C is good for a variety of medical uses (such as improving Alzheimer’s, fertility, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, anemia, depression, and more), further research is needed to determine how effective it is.

Will vitamin C help allergies?

For certain types of allergies, the answer is yes. Vitamin C is an antihistamine, which means it inhibits the effects of histamines (the chemicals your immune system makes in response to allergy triggers like pollen).

People who suffer from hay fever or react to other common allergens like pet dander and mold should make sure to get plenty of vitamin C to help calm allergy symptoms and support immune function.

Is vitamin C good for your hair?

Vitamin C can benefit your hair in several ways. First, vitamin C is needed to absorb iron which you need if you want strong and healthy hair (and prevent hair loss).

As an antioxidant, vitamin C combats free radicals that damage hair follicles and make hair brittle.

Vitamin C is necessary for collagen production, which contains amino acids used to build keratin (the main protein making up your hair). Collagen also promotes healthy, supple skin (the foundation for healthy hair).

What happens when you are low on vitamin C?

Intravenous vitamin C gives you hydration & antioxidants without the sugar.

Early symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include fatigue, depression, irritability, muscle pain and joint pain.

Severe vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) is a serious disorder no longer common in the developed world. Without treatment, scurvy leads to gum disease, hair loss, internal bleeding, decreased red blood cell count and skin problems.

Why not just take vitamin C supplements?

When we consume vitamin C in food, drinks, or supplements less than 20% of the vitamin C is actually absorbed by our bodies. With IV vitamin infusions, 100% of the vitamin C can be used by the body immediately.

Another reason to choose fast-acting IV therapy for vitamin C treatments is because once inside the body vitamin C has a half-life of only 2 hours.

How long does it take vitamin C to work?

How long it takes for vitamin C to “work” depends on whether you’re deficient to begin with, the results you’re expecting to notice (beating a cold, improving skin, boosting energy levels, or any number of benefits), the type and quality of your vitamin C supplement and the levels of other vitamins and nutrients you get in your diet.

Your stress level, lifestyle (like choosing to smoke or drink alcohol), and any medications you are on can also affect how quickly vitamin C is absorbed and makes a difference in your health.

The best way to understand how quickly you will see and feel the results of vitamin C supplementation is to discuss vitamin C IV therapy with one of our experienced medical professionals. We will answer all your questions and can even create a custom formula based on your needs and goals.

When is the best time to take vitamin C?

Choosing when to take vitamin C is entirely up to you. Vitamins and supplements affect each person differently. 

Some sources say vitamin C should be taken on an empty stomach because it’s water soluble and will absorb better that way. Other sources say you should take vitamin C supplements after a meal to avoid upsetting your stomach (many find that taking supplements on an empty stomach can cause nausea, heartburn, or gas).

Vitamin C IV therapy is fast and effective any time of day, no matter when your last meal was. You’ll always get the best and quickest absorption (and avoid any potential digestive issues) with IV vitamin drips.

 IV Hydration and Vitamin Shots for Better Health

Vitamin C infusions offer a lot of different benefits. Try one of our many hydration treatments or vitamin injections with extra vitamin C added:

References

  1. National Institutes of Health. [Vitamin C Fact Sheet for Health Professionals] 2018
  2. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. [Vitamin C depletion correlates with lower body fat…] 2006
  3. Front Pharmacol. [Antioxidant and Oxidative Stress: A Mutual Interplay in Age-Related Diseases] 2018
  4. Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. [Vitamin C in the treatment and/or prevention of obesity.] 2014
  5. Braakhuis, A.J. [Effect of vitamin C supplements on physical performance] 2012
  6. Hemila, Harri. [Vitamin C may alleviate exercise-induced bronchoconstriction] 2012
  7. National Center for Biotechnology Information. [Intravenous vitamin C in the treatment of allergies] 2018
  8. National Center for Biotechnology Information. [Oxidative Stress: Promoter of Allergic Sensitization to Protease Allergens?] 2017
  9. National Center for Biotechnology Information. [The development of allergic inflammation] 2008
  10. Drake, Victoria J. [Overview of Inflammation] 2010
  11. National Center for Biotechnology Information. [Vitamin C and Infections] 2017
  12. H. Clay Gorton, H. Clay DC; Jarvis, Kelly DC. [The effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infections] 1999
  13. Peng, ZhiYong. [Vitamin C Infusion for the Treatment of Severe 2019-nCoV Infected Pneumonia] 2020
  14. Boretti, Alberto; Krishna Banik, Bimal. [Intravenous vitamin C for reduction of cytokines storm in acute respiratory distress syndrome] 2020

 

Accepted Payments for IV Therapy

We accept cash and most credit cards, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Our services are HSA (Health Savings Account) approved, so you can also pay that way. We do not accept insurance, but our costs are typically less than what you can expect to pay for an ER copay, without having to sit in a waiting room.