Introduction
Getting vitamins directly into your bloodstream and bypassing your gut seems like a very efficient way to get your vitamins, but is there actually any benefit to getting them this way?
Boosting your immune system, making your skin glow and reducing fatigue are just some of the claims made by companies offering IV vitamin therapies. Some celebrities even swear by them as a hangover cure. But what does the science actually tell us about the risks and benefits of IV vitamin drips?
What is actually in a vitamin drip?
Formulations vary depending on the provider, but they commonly contain a cocktail of vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium and calcium. The classic example is the “Myers’ cocktail”, which contains magnesium, calcium, B vitamins and vitamin C.
When you take a vitamin orally, it has to pass through your digestive system to be absorbed through your gut before reaching your bloodstream. How much is absorbed varies depending on the vitamin, the dose and other factors. Giving vitamins intravenously bypasses this process and can produce much higher concentrations in the blood. However, a higher blood concentration does not necessarily mean a greater health benefit.
Does a higher blood concentration of vitamins make a difference?
If we focus specifically on vitamin C, one study found that a 1.25 g oral dose produced a peak blood concentration of around 135 μmol/L, compared with 885 μmol/L when the same dose was given intravenously. So there is no question that giving vitamin C intravenously can produce much higher concentrations in the blood.
However, our bodies carefully regulate vitamin levels. Once the body's requirements are met, increasing the amount circulating in the blood does not necessarily provide additional benefit. Excess water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C can be excreted through the kidneys.
If someone has a vitamin deficiency or is unable to adequately absorb nutrients through their gut, IV formulations can be extremely useful. However, for an otherwise healthy individual, there isn't good evidence that temporarily achieving much higher plasma vitamin concentrations translates into increased energy, better immunity or faster recovery.
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Can it cure my hangover?
The reasoning behind the claim that an IV drip can cure a hangover is often that it can rapidly rehydrate you. However, dehydration doesn't appear to explain the full range of symptoms we experience during a hangover.
A 2024 review found that dehydration after drinking alcohol tends to be relatively short-lived and mild, whereas hangover symptoms can persist much longer. Hydration may improve symptoms such as thirst and dry mouth, but it hasn't been shown to meaningfully reduce overall hangover severity.
There is currently little good-quality evidence that IV vitamin or hydration drips provide an effective treatment for hangovers in otherwise healthy people.
What are the risks with IV vitamin drips?
An IV is an invasive medical procedure and, along with that, comes additional risks. These include pain, bruising or inflammation around the cannula site (the plastic tube that enters your vein) and a small risk of infection.
Our bodies are also very good at maintaining a stable internal environment, a process known as homeostasis. The gut and kidneys help regulate the amount of vitamins and minerals that are absorbed, retained and excreted. Intravenous administration bypasses the gut and delivers these substances directly into the blood, meaning inappropriate doses of mineral-containing infusions can potentially cause electrolyte disturbances. Severe electrolyte disturbances can affect muscle, nerve and heart function.
This doesn't mean that electrolyte disturbances commonly occur after commercial IV drips, but they are recognised potential complications and are one reason why intravenous treatment requires greater caution than taking an ordinary vitamin supplement.
Who regulates IV vitamin drips in the UK?
IV vitamin therapy sits within a much more regulated framework than buying vitamin supplements from a shop. Many products used in IV vitamin drips are prescription-only when administered intravenously, even when the same vitamin can be bought as an oral supplement over the counter.
In England, relevant IV services may also fall under the regulation of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). However, regulation should not be confused with evidence that a treatment works. A treatment can be legally supplied and administered without there being strong evidence that it provides additional health benefits to an otherwise healthy person.
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Do we actually need vitamin supplements at all?
Most healthy people eating a varied and balanced diet should be able to get the majority of the vitamins and minerals they need from food.
Supplements can be beneficial if you have a diagnosed deficiency, have difficulty absorbing certain nutrients or have increased requirements. There are also specific recommendations for certain groups, such as folic acid when trying to conceive and during early pregnancy, and vitamin D supplementation in the UK during autumn and winter. Ultimately, more isn't always better: once your body has enough of a vitamin, taking additional amounts may provide little benefit and, for some vitamins and minerals, excessive doses can be harmful.
References
Padayatty SJ, Sun H, Wang Y, Riordan HD, Hewitt SM, Katz A, Wesley RA, Levine M. Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140(7):533–537. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-140-7-200404060-00010
Mackus M, Stock AK, Garssen J, Scholey A, Verster JC. Alcohol hangover versus dehydration revisited: The effect of drinking water to prevent or alleviate the alcohol hangover. Alcohol. 2024;121:9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.07.006
O'Connor EA, Evans CV, Ivlev I, et al. Vitamin and mineral supplements for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer: Updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2022;327(23):2334–2347. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.15650
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