What Is a Vitamin C Drip?
High-Dose IV Vitamin C Explained

A vitamin C drip is an IV drip that delivers vitamin C (ascorbic acid) straight into a vein in a saline bag, usually together with B vitamins, minerals or glutathione. Humans cannot make their own vitamin C, so we rely on food, and the gut limits how much reaches the blood from tablets. Given intravenously, vitamin C reaches blood levels that oral doses cannot. Vitamin C is an antioxidant the body needs to make collagen, and it plays a part in the normal working of the immune system. High doses are not for everyone: people with G6PD deficiency, kidney disease or a history of kidney stones must tell us first. This guide covers what IV vitamin C is, how it compares with tablets, what vitamin C does in the body, the safety cautions, which of our drips contain high-dose vitamin C and how to book. At mobivIVe every drip is given by a registered nurse after a medical screening questionnaire.

This guide was written under the medical direction of Dr Chris van Zyl (registered as M.C. van Zyl, HPCSA MP0287067), mobivIVe’s medical director. Our IV drips are given by registered nurses after a medical screening questionnaire.

What is a vitamin C drip?

A vitamin C drip is a saline bag containing vitamin C that runs into a vein through a thin cannula, usually over about 45 minutes. The vitamin C is ascorbic acid prepared for injection, which in South Africa is a Schedule 3 medicine, so it should only be given under medical oversight. Most clinics combine it with other nutrients rather than giving it on its own. “High-dose” simply means far more than you would get from food or a standard tablet; the exact amount in each of our formulas is set by our medical protocols. A registered nurse places the cannula, sets the flow rate and stays with you while the bag runs, then removes the cannula when it is finished.

Why can oral vitamin C not reach the same blood levels?

The body tightly controls how much vitamin C it absorbs from the gut and how much the kidneys keep, so oral doses hit a ceiling. NIH researchers measured and modelled this in healthy volunteers. Their model predicted that even the maximum tolerated oral dose, 3g every 4 hours, would peak at about 220 micromol/L in the blood, while a 50g intravenous dose would peak at about 13,400 micromol/L (Padayatty et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2004). They concluded that oral vitamin C produces tightly controlled levels and that only the IV route produces very high levels. These are measurements of how high levels go, not proof that higher levels bring extra health benefits.

What does vitamin C do in the body?

Vitamin C is the main water-soluble antioxidant in blood and tissues, and the body needs it to make collagen, the protein that gives skin, blood vessels and connective tissue their structure. The Linus Pauling Institute describes it as an essential cofactor in collagen production and the primary water-soluble antioxidant in plasma. Humans lost the ability to make vitamin C over the course of evolution, so it has to come from food such as citrus, guavas, peppers and broccoli, or from supplements. Because it dissolves in water, the body does not store large amounts, and the kidneys pass out what is not needed. That is one reason a high level after a drip falls again within hours.

Does a vitamin C drip help the immune system?

Vitamin C has a normal role in immune function, but there is no good evidence that a vitamin C drip prevents colds, flu or any other illness in healthy people. Laboratory studies show vitamin C affects several parts of the immune system, but the Linus Pauling Institute notes that results in people are conflicting. Most serious research on high-dose IV vitamin C has been done in hospital settings such as cancer care, not in healthy adults. We do not claim that any drip treats or prevents illness. People choose a vitamin C drip as a vitamin and hydration top-up, for example before travel, during a demanding week or before a big event. If you are unwell, see your doctor.

Who should not have high-dose vitamin C?

People with G6PD deficiency should not have high-dose IV vitamin C, and anyone with kidney disease or a history of kidney stones must check with us first. G6PD deficiency is an inherited enzyme condition in which large doses of vitamin C can make red blood cells break down. The Linus Pauling Institute records cases of haemolytic anaemia after very large IV doses in G6PD-deficient people. The US National Cancer Institute lists G6PD deficiency, kidney disease and kidney stones as risk factors and reports kidney failure after vitamin C in people with existing kidney disorders. A registered nurse gives every drip after a medical screening questionnaire, under the protocols of our medical director, Dr Chris van Zyl. If you have a heart, kidney or liver condition, are pregnant, or take chronic medication, tell us before you book.

Can vitamin C cause kidney stones?

Possibly, in people who are prone to them, because the body turns some vitamin C into oxalate, a component of calcium oxalate kidney stones. The evidence from supplements is mixed. In a study of 48,840 Swedish men, those who regularly took single vitamin C supplements had about twice the risk of kidney stones, while other large studies found no increase (Linus Pauling Institute). The Institute suggests that people predisposed to kidney stones may want to avoid high-dose vitamin C. Those findings were for daily oral supplements over years, not an occasional drip, but the same caution applies. If you have had kidney stones, tell us before you book.

Which mobivIVe drips contain high-dose vitamin C?

The Kick-Start (R1,350), The Light Switch (R1,350) and The Royal IV (R2,650) all contain high-dose vitamin C, each in a different combination. The Kick-Start, also called our Super Immune Boost IV, adds glutathione, the Myers cocktail, vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin), selenium and zinc and B complex; see our immune drip page. The Light Switch, our glow drip, pairs it with high-dose glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and B complex; see our glow drip page. The Royal IV is our all-in-one formula, with alpha lipoic acid, glutathione, L-carnitine, glutamine, arginine and more. Each takes about 45 minutes.

Can I add vitamin C to a different drip?

Yes, extra vitamins can be added to any of our drips, so you can discuss adding vitamin C with the nurse after your screening. If you would rather build your own formula, The Fingerprint, from R440, lets you choose your vitamins with our nurse. The nurse will check your screening answers first, including any G6PD deficiency, kidney condition or history of kidney stones, because these affect whether high-dose vitamin C is suitable for you. You can compare every formula and its ingredient list on our drip menu and see current IV drip prices before you decide.

How do I book a vitamin C drip?

You can book online in a few minutes at book.mobivive.co.za, choosing a lounge or “Your Home, Office, etc.” for a mobile visit. Our lounges are in Sunninghill Village Shopping Centre, Sandton; 5 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch; and Medipark, 43 Grey Street, Komani (Queenstown). Mobile nurses cover Johannesburg, the Winelands and several Cape Town areas for a call-out fee of R400 minimum, or R150 per person for groups (first 15km). The price includes a 200ml or 1000ml saline bag; a 1000ml bag with dextrose is R200 extra, and extra vitamins can be added. You will complete a short medical screening questionnaire before your appointment. Questions first? WhatsApp or call us on 061 509 6038.