Vitamin C infusion - sense, costs and side effects

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is a vital vitamin. Unfortunately, unlike many animals, the human body can not produce this vitamin itself and is therefore dependent on an external supply. First and foremost, it's about nutrition. If this is not enough, vitamin C can be supplied in the form of tablets or powder. However, the body is only able to process and store a small amount of the added vitamin. If larger amounts are needed, a vitamin C infusion is the appropriate remedy of choice.

contents

• Vitamin C and its tasks
• Occurrence
• deficiency symptoms
• Increased vitamin C requirement
• Vitamin C oral
• Passing the gastrointestinal tract
• Indication for a vitamin C infusion
• procedure
• Vitamin C infusion in cancer
• side effects

Vitamin C and its tasks

Vitamin C has many functions in the human body. This is what is needed in the production of collagen, which is an important component of bones, skin, tendons, cartilage, blood vessels and teeth. Vitamin C is a radical scavenging agent that regulates fat metabolism, supports the absorption of dietary iron and is necessary for detoxification reactions in the liver. Vitamin C is important for the defense against viruses and bacteria, stimulates the proliferation of T-lymphocytes, is highly concentrated in the white blood cells (the leukocytes) and is therefore essential for a well-functioning immune system.

Vitamin C is important for fighting infections and performs many other functions. About the food, however, only limited amounts can be absorbed. Here, vitamin C infusions are an alternative to provide the body with high doses of the vitamin. (Image: Yuliya / fotolia.com)

Vitamin C is also needed for the metabolism in the brain and the production of messenger substances necessary there. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause damage in the blood vessels and increase arteriosclerotic deposits. In addition, vitamin C promotes the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, which means it can lower too much cholesterol in the blood.

Occurrence

Vitamin C is most abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables. Examples are blackcurrants, citrus fruits, pineapple, paprika, fennel, broccoli, sauerkraut, tomatoes and potatoes. However, it is quite uncertain how much vitamin C the food really contains and how much of it can actually be ingested. In addition, this vitamin is quite sensitive to heat. Therefore, foods should either be eaten raw or, if this is not possible, cooked gently. Long transport routes, long storage and incorrect preparation can reduce the amount of vitamin C or even destroy it altogether.

A lot of vitamin C is found in fresh fruits and vegetables such as blackcurrant, citrus, pineapple, paprika, fennel, broccoli, sauerkraut, tomatoes and potatoes. (Image: bit24 / fotolia.com)

deficiency symptoms

Deficiency symptoms include fatigue, fatigue, recurrent infections, angular cheilitis, wound healing disorders, bleeding gums, and performance decline. A today, fortunately only very rarely occurring illness, which occurs only in the extreme case, is scurvy. This disease has become known to the sailors, caused by the one-sided diet, which has led to this avitaminosis during the long voyages. On the rides were missing vitamin C-containing foods.

Scurvy showed the following symptoms: mouth blight with gum bleeding to the point of failure of the teeth, poor wound healing, fatigue, joint inflammation, muscle wasting, dizziness and high fever, to death. Later, to counteract the scurvy, famous sailors such as Christopher Columbus and James Cook brought sauerkraut barrels on board, so they could give the crew a daily dose of vitamin C..

Increased vitamin C requirement

An increased need for vitamin C occurs in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, infectious diseases, allergies, after operations, in stress, in circulatory disorders, in serious injuries, in conjunction with chemo- and / or radiotherapy, in smokers and in alcoholism.

Vitamin C oral

The oral intake of vitamin C is limited. Vitamin C is taken up by the intestine and this can only retain a small amount - the rest is simply excreted again. Too much of it causes indigestion and leads to gas formation and diarrhea. Chewable tablets containing vitamin C, when enjoyed in excess, can also attack the enamel.

If the body needs more of this vitamin, then a Vitamin C infusion is the right choice. After such an application, the organism is well-filled with the vitamin and can be supplied at times of increased need.

Passing the gastrointestinal tract

Who speaks of a vitamin C therapy, certainly thinks of the two-time Nobel laureate Linus Pauling (1901 - 1994). He devoted himself in detail to the high-dose vitamin C therapy, which is possible only in the form of an infusion. Pauling suggested that with a large amount of vitamin C, serious illnesses can be prevented.

Since the 90s of the 20th century, the benefits of vitamin C infusion have been extensively researched. The basis for this is the knowledge that in many diseases, the vitamin C needs increase and this can not be filled by oral intake. In addition, in many cases the intestinal mucous membranes are affected by the underlying disease and therefore an orally administered vitamin dose can not be absorbed through the intestine. An injection or infusion, on the other hand, bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and vitamin C ends up where it is supposed to.

Indication for a vitamin C infusion

There are a variety of indications for vitamin C infusion. These include susceptibility to infection, allergies, fatigue, listlessness, viral and bacterial infections, fungi in the digestive tract, wound healing disorders, rheumatic diseases, increased blood lipid levels, circulatory disorders of the brain, cancer aftercare and concomitant therapy in chemo- and / or radiotherapy and the strengthening of the immune system, for example, before Surgery, for convalescence,

Also in the treatment of cancer vitamin C infusions can be used as adjunctive therapy. (Image: DOC RABE Media / fotolia.com)

procedure

A vitamin C infusion is carried out when the body has a lack of vitamin C and this can not be met by oral intake. This is a simple and optimal way to quickly deliver a high dose of vitamin C to the organism. The suitable ascorbic acid preparation must be used for infusion into a carrier solution - usually a 0.9 percent saline solution, also called isotonic saline solution. Such an infusion takes about twenty to thirty minutes.

Depending on the indication, the vitamin C infusion is carried out two to three times a week. After infusion drink enough water or tea to counteract the possible formation of kidney stones.

Vitamin C infusion in cancer

Many cancer patients suffer from a vitamin C deficiency that they are often unaware of. The traditional medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation consume a large amount of vitamin C. Also, the mucous membranes of cancer patients are usually attacked. Therefore, the intestinal mucosa can not absorb the orally administered vitamin. Thus, in the biological cancer defense, the vitamin C infusion is performed.

For years researchers have been studying the effect of vitamin C on cancer cells. Here, there are studies that advocate the use of vitamin C in the form of infusions for tumor defense as a treatment. But also for aftercare, especially in weakened patients, the vitamin C infusion is now a commonly used remedy.

side effects

In very rare cases, vitamin C infusion may cause a hypersensitivity reaction. Symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and respiratory distress are possible. Patients who have impaired kidney function should not receive a vitamin C infusion as kidney and urinary stones may form and, in the worst case, cause kidney failure. As a rule, these infusions are well tolerated - side effects are very rare. (Sw)