IV nutritional therapy has taken the world by storm. Proponents have come up with endless lists of their benefits. But are they really what they are said to be? We will look at the benefits of this approach of supplementation and also explore the shortcomings if they exist. The most important thing to know is that these supplements should be done with a qualified healthcare provider whenever they feel that there is a proper need to do so.
IV nutrients are routinely administered in hospitals to patients who have become too sick to eat. This is taken as a survival measure and not because the route is better. In other patients the nutrition is used as a way of supplementing deficient nutrients.
Nutritional therapy has been widely adopted in treatment of cancer. Currently, the main modalities of cancer treatment are chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These two modalities are, unfortunately, non-selective and thus often lead to damage of normal cells. This results in damage of immune cells and lowered ability to fight residual cancer cells and any other diseases that may be contracted later on. Proper nutrition restores the immune function so that proper defence mechanisms can be mounted.
The therapies are better than oral supplements when it comes to correction of intracellular nutrient deficiency. This is because they are delivered directly to their intended targets and do not have to pass through the digestive tract like the oral supplements. Passage through the digestive tract reduces the bioavailability and hence the effectiveness. Persons that have low hydrochloric acid production are particularly at an increased advantage.
There are very many varied types of nutrients that can be administered via the intravenous route. Calcium is one of the most important of them. Calcium has been established to have very important functions both in the structure and the physiology of human beings and animals. It is one of the main constituents of bone and teeth. It also plays a central role in the transmission of nerve impulses and contraction of muscles. Its deficiency leads to conditions such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis, muscle cramps and irritability.
Magnesium and zinc are also commonly supplemented. These minerals work very much in the same way as calcium. Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in the body. The main ones include maintenance of muscle and nervous function and proper functioning of the immune system. Zinc, on the other hand, is required for wound healing, proper immune function and normal pregnancy development. Other minerals that have been successfully supplemented include vitamins E, B1, B2, B6, C and folate.
The treatment is fairly easy to administer. The patient may experience a bit of pain as the intravenous access is established but this is usually eliminated by the use of some analgesia. There is not much preparation that is required on the part of the patient apart from making their request a few days or hours in advance. The whole process takes one or two hours.
There are a number of side effects that are associated with IV Nutritional Therapy. For example, some people have been reported to react to the supplements. Most nutrients have preservatives and these may act as allergens in some patients. It is important that you enquire on whether preservatives have been used or not. Newer products without preservatives have now been developed. The other smaller risks that may occur include bleeding, formation of clots and infection.
IV nutrients are routinely administered in hospitals to patients who have become too sick to eat. This is taken as a survival measure and not because the route is better. In other patients the nutrition is used as a way of supplementing deficient nutrients.
Nutritional therapy has been widely adopted in treatment of cancer. Currently, the main modalities of cancer treatment are chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These two modalities are, unfortunately, non-selective and thus often lead to damage of normal cells. This results in damage of immune cells and lowered ability to fight residual cancer cells and any other diseases that may be contracted later on. Proper nutrition restores the immune function so that proper defence mechanisms can be mounted.
The therapies are better than oral supplements when it comes to correction of intracellular nutrient deficiency. This is because they are delivered directly to their intended targets and do not have to pass through the digestive tract like the oral supplements. Passage through the digestive tract reduces the bioavailability and hence the effectiveness. Persons that have low hydrochloric acid production are particularly at an increased advantage.
There are very many varied types of nutrients that can be administered via the intravenous route. Calcium is one of the most important of them. Calcium has been established to have very important functions both in the structure and the physiology of human beings and animals. It is one of the main constituents of bone and teeth. It also plays a central role in the transmission of nerve impulses and contraction of muscles. Its deficiency leads to conditions such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis, muscle cramps and irritability.
Magnesium and zinc are also commonly supplemented. These minerals work very much in the same way as calcium. Magnesium is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in the body. The main ones include maintenance of muscle and nervous function and proper functioning of the immune system. Zinc, on the other hand, is required for wound healing, proper immune function and normal pregnancy development. Other minerals that have been successfully supplemented include vitamins E, B1, B2, B6, C and folate.
The treatment is fairly easy to administer. The patient may experience a bit of pain as the intravenous access is established but this is usually eliminated by the use of some analgesia. There is not much preparation that is required on the part of the patient apart from making their request a few days or hours in advance. The whole process takes one or two hours.
There are a number of side effects that are associated with IV Nutritional Therapy. For example, some people have been reported to react to the supplements. Most nutrients have preservatives and these may act as allergens in some patients. It is important that you enquire on whether preservatives have been used or not. Newer products without preservatives have now been developed. The other smaller risks that may occur include bleeding, formation of clots and infection.
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