Infusion therapy: when it makes sense – and when it doesn't
Vitamin, NAD+ and iron infusions are heavily advertised. What of it is medically justified.
In recent years infusions have become a lifestyle offering. From a medical point of view, a sober look is worthwhile.
The principle
With an infusion, nutrients enter the bloodstream directly and bypass the digestive tract. This is an advantage when absorption through the gut is impaired or a pronounced deficiency needs to be corrected quickly.
When an infusion is medically justified
- confirmed iron deficiency, especially with intolerance or insufficient effect of tablets
- documented vitamin deficiencies, for example with absorption disorders or after certain operations
- situations in which oral intake is not possible
The decisive point: measure first
Without a laboratory finding, an infusion is guesswork. We therefore first determine the relevant values and only treat if a deficiency actually exists. This is not only more responsible but also safer: some substances can be overdosed.
What infusions do not achieve
They replace neither a balanced diet nor an assessment of the cause. Persistent fatigue has many possible reasons – thyroid, sleep, iron, blood count. Looking for these causes is more important than covering them up with an infusion.
On NAD+
NAD+ is a coenzyme with a central role in cell metabolism. The research on it is interesting, but the evidence for many advertised uses is still limited. We say openly what is proven and what is not.
Procedure
After discussing the findings you receive the appropriate infusion; depending on the preparation this takes 20 to 60 minutes in a calm atmosphere.