Celebs and alpha males are using intravenous vitamin drips to stay at the top of their game, but do they work and are they safe? Dr. Paul Glynne on "trendy" vitamin injections:
This is not an evidence based practice. This is so called designer medicine and has no place in mainstream medicine in the UK.
As you know, I do not offer any treatment that is not within the scope of my NHS practice. I would also not have any doctor with me who offered treatments outside the scope of their NHS practice.
The indication for vitamin supplements (oral or intravenous) are quite clear:
- measured vitamin deficiency;
- pre-emptive supplements in specific circumstances (pregnancy, certain drug treatments e.g. methotrexate, anti-TB treatment);
- patients requiring supplemental nutrition.
Using unlicensed IV supplements is in my view unacceptably bad medical practice and gives the profession a bad name. Over the counter oral supplements are commonplace, but not evidence based, and probably offer nothing over and above healthy diet and exercise. They exist to line the pockets of those selling them.