Unpacking the Benefits of High Dose Vitamin C Infusions: What You Need to Know

You may have heard of vitamin IV therapy or other IV treatments. While many vitamin IV therapies include a cocktail of vitamins and minerals, vitamin C alone can be its own treatment option. High-dose vitamin C infusions may not sound groundbreaking, but they’ve been shown to have significant health benefits and are now being used in trials to help cancer patients. 

IV Therapy, or infusion therapy, involves delivering vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly into the bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) drip. This mode of delivery enables the nutrients to evade the digestive system and get absorbed into the body more effectively. Nutrients commonly administered through IV Therapy are vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and glutathione.

People may seek IV therapy for various reasons, including treating fatigue, boosting the immune system, and improving athletic performance. Vitamin C infusions have their own benefits that can help the body feel and perform better.

Why Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is of water-soluble nutrient present in certain foods. It is an antioxidant in the body, safeguarding cells against damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when food is converted into energy in our bodies. Moreover, individuals are exposed to free radicals in the environment through cigarette smoke, air pollution, and UV light from the sun.

The body relies on vitamin C to synthesize collagen, a protein that facilitates wound healing. Additionally, vitamin C heightens iron absorption from plant-based foods and promotes a healthy immune system that protects the body from diseases.

Seeking out vitamin C-rich foods is a good way to gain some benefits, but the body does not absorb as much as you put in. Many people will take vitamin C supplements to help receive more benefits, but that isn’t always effective either. Oral supplements aren’t absorbed immediately, and often the body does not take in all the nutrients available when they are broken down in the stomach. IV therapy can help you receive 100% of the nutrients more directly and help your body absorb them faster. 

Vitamin C infusions are far more impactful than taking a daily supplement. But it may not always be a treatment you want or need. It can be used to target specific issues and have a more significant impact due to the high dosage. But that also means it should be done at a safe pace to allow your body to enjoy the benefits without overdoing it. 

Treatment Benefits

Individuals may seek vitamin C infusion therapy to treat specific problems or gain the overall benefits it provides. If you are interested in receiving vitamin c infusions or want to learn more about the different options, CORR has a state-of-the-art facility to help your body do better and optimize overall health. IV therapy is available in many forms, including high-dosage vitamin C infusions. 

Before you sign up for some IV therapy, knowing what is involved and how your body will be impacted is important. 

More Energy

High doses of vitamin C in the body greatly impact energy production. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in breaking down fats, allowing them to serve as a source of energy. This process occurs when a carnitine molecule is produced to transport fats into a cell’s mitochondria to generate energy.

In 2011, researchers conducted a study investigating the correlation between high doses of vitamin C and energy production. The results of the vitamin C study demonstrated that when office workers were given an intravenous dose of 10 grams of vitamin C, fatigue was alleviated within two hours, and energy levels remained elevated for the next 24 hours.

More Collagen With Vitamin C Infusions

Collagen, present in all animal tissues, functions as a structural protein supporting various bodily functions. It aids in binding muscles to bones and structurally stabilizes arteries and veins.

For collagen synthesis to occur, vitamin C, proline, and lysine are essential amino acids that are required. Individuals with insufficient collagen levels usually exhibit thin, unhealthy-looking skin and weakened blood vessels, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Prolonged periods of collagen deficiency can lead to aneurysms due to thinning of blood vessel walls, potential strokes, and sports-related injuries such as ruptured tendons and ligaments.

Fortunately, these conditions can be entirely prevented or treated by administering high doses of vitamin C intravenously. Vitamin C promotes the body’s natural collagen production, ensuring that the collagen network remains healthy and robust. Specifically, vitamin C facilitates the synthesis of collagen production, enabling the body to activate its gene expression and generate more collagen.

Antioxidant Protection

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that safeguards many cellular structures in our bodies, including collagen, proteins, and DNA, from damage caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species resulting from chronic illness, stress, and infections.

Studies have demonstrated that vitamin C’s exceptional antioxidant properties can significantly reduce the severity of symptoms associated with the influenza virus, making it a vital therapeutic option for surviving the flu.

Better Immune System

Research indicates that high doses of vitamin C specifically impact infectious agents, including bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells. While the use of vitamin C in cancer therapy is still a topic of debate in the medical community, several ongoing studies have yielded encouraging results.

Vitamin C has been found to have numerous beneficial effects on both the innate and adaptive immune systems, impacting cellular functions. Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties help protect the body against oxidative challenges. This essential vitamin aids in wound healing and maintaining strong bones, teeth, skin, and cartilage. As an antioxidant, vitamin C combats harmful free radicals in the body, which may aid in the prevention or delay of specific types of cancer, heart disease, and support healthy aging. In addition, consuming vitamin C-rich foods has been associated with reducing the likelihood of cartilage deterioration in people with osteoarthritis.

Vitamin C Infusions: Combatting Cancer

The use of vitamin C in cancer treatment has been controversial. While there is no definitive study on the extent of its benefits, various research studies have yielded some conclusions.

High-dose vitamin C IV therapy has shown that:

• Even doses exceeding 100 grams are considered safe, non-toxic, and have very few side effects.
• High-dose vitamin C IV therapy does not cause kidney stones, and oxalic acid levels are not elevated by high doses of vitamin C.
• At lower doses, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant, while at higher doses, it acts as an oxidant. As an oxidant, vitamin C reacts with iron and oxygen to create high concentrations of peroxide in tissues, which immune cells use to destroy foreign and cancer cells. Additionally, high doses of vitamin C deplete ATP and damage the DNA of cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy and radiation (except for methotrexate) can safely be combined with high doses of vitamin C, provided that the individual’s oncology team is informed and has approved the treatment plan.

High Dosage Details

Vitamin C’s function varies depending on its concentration in the bloodstream. Vitamin C is an antioxidant in smaller doses, such as those obtained by taking pills or receiving intravenous infusions below 10-12 grams. However, when used in larger doses, it acts as an oxidant. This distinction is critical in guiding physicians’ treatment choices.

When treating cancer or infections, it is desirable to mimic the body’s natural immune response, which employs oxidation to eliminate cancer cells and combat infections. High doses of vitamin C are administered to the body to achieve this goal, creating a therapeutic oxidative environment that healthy cells can tolerate but is detrimental to cancerous and infected cells. In contrast, lower doses of antioxidant vitamin C are preferable in chronic disease states. While both lower and higher doses of vitamin C can be administered via oral or intravenous therapy, only high-dose (oxidative) vitamin C can be delivered via intravenous infusion.

The reason you are seeking vitamin C infusions will impact the amount given and the results. 

Treatment Experience

The process of receiving high-dosage vitamin C infusions typically involves visiting a healthcare provider specializing in this type of therapy. The provider will begin by assessing the patient’s overall health and determining an appropriate dose of vitamin C. The infusion may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the dosage and the patient’s needs.

During the infusion, patients may experience a range of sensations. Some report feeling a warmth or tingling sensation as the vitamin C enters their bloodstream, while others may feel a sense of calm or relaxation. It is also common for patients to feel more energized and focused following the infusion, although individual experiences may vary.

Overall, the experience of receiving high-dosage vitamin C infusions can be a positive one for many patients. While the therapy is not without potential side effects, such as vein irritation or allergic reactions, these risks are generally considered low.

Better Health, Faster Results

IV therapy can provide many positive benefits and has grown in popularity. If you think high-dose vitamin C infusions could be a good option for you, it’s essential that you go to a quality facility with a team of practiced professionals. Infusion therapy is safe and should leave you feeling better than when you started, but you need to work with people who know how to treat specific symptoms. And if you are receiving treatment for other conditions, consult with your healthcare professional before seeking IV therapy. 
If vitamin C infusion therapy seems like a good fit for you, learn more about the process and options CORR offers. And before you begin treatment, schedule a consultation so staff can better assess your needs and what might work best for you. Reach out to the team at CORR and find out how you could start feeling better today.