A recent trend in Hollywood really pushes the nutrition fad parameters too far: People are paying big bucks for weekly intravenous infusions of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and who knows what else. According to numerous reports (this report was on ABC news), entertainment hot shots and other generally wealthy folks with a perceived lack of energy and too much time on their hands are visiting clinics to pay up to $275 for an infusion. This is we assume instead of lunch.
Supposedly the infusions increase energy and in one participant s phrase they make me feel alive.
ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava doesn t think much of the practice. First, she says, anyone who is normally healthy and able to eat a balanced diet doesn t need infusions of vitamins or minerals. This practice is akin to taking megavitamins, which can be dangerous. People would do better to use their lunch hours for eating food and getting their nutrition the usual way. A person who feels low-energy might just be lacking sleep, not vitamins. Any positive result is likely to be a placebo effect.
