“How often should I get IV vitamin infusions?”
This is a tricky question, and the answer can be frustrating. The truth is, it depends.
First you need to know where you’re starting at — the only way to know your base nutrient levels is to test. At Biohackr Health, we believe diagnostic testing is important, particularly when you start therapy. Are you at normal levels? Deficient in some areas? We offer micronutrient testing through our Biohackr Benchmark program, specifically to figure out your baseline.
Here are important factors to consider, which can affect your nutrient levels:
- Do you have an absorption issue? (celiac, Crohns, a previous history of gastric bypass, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.)
- Is your diet limited? There are certain diets (like being vegan) which can run low on key vitamins and minerals.
- What is your baseline?
- Do you take any supplements currently?
- Be careful to look at supplements that combine different vitamins. A common example is a hair supplement like Nutrafol, which contains collagen and vitamins. If you take this supplement and a multivitamin, what true dose are you getting daily?
- How regularly do you take the supplements? What is the dose? If you take Vitamin D, when you look at the rows of options, what is the strength of the vitamin you take? Concentration varies widely in how many units are included in a single pill.
- Is the supplement USP-certified? There are agencies that perform independent testing of supplements to assess whether they really have what they advertise in the strength stated.
- Do you have any medical issues — particularly affecting the kidney — which affect regulation of vitamin concentrations?
- Are you currently affected by a certain stressor — such as COVID, cancer, chemotherapy, etc. — that affects your need?
WHAT are you deficient in?
- Some vitamins are water soluble, so your body doesn’t hold onto them long.
- Some vitamins (ADEK) are fat soluble, so they store in your fat cells. You need to be more careful with these, as you don’t want them to build up and create toxicity.
IV nutrient therapies are bypassing one of your normal filters — the gut — by going directly into the vein. This can be great for increasing levels, but we want to do so safely. Our IVs are tailored to different needs.
When reading the literature, you will see recommendations for IV frequency varying from every two weeks to every month. But the duration (How many months should I do it for?) and the frequency may vary. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
BOTTOM LINE:
We love IV infusions and see value in them. You can read upcoming blogs detailing scientific studies showing IV vitamins can improve quality of life for chemotherapy patients to long-COVID patients.
However, not everyone is the same. Your diet, age, genetics, and other issues affect your current levels and needs. The best way to get an idea of what you need is to test. Please ask about our micronutrient test. We feel it is worth it, particularly at the beginning of your health journey.
