IV drip therapy for athletes

IV Drip therapy for sporting performance

Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or simply running the London Marathon for the first time, you’re likely paying attention to your diet.

You know that it’s important to eat enough macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat) to sustain you, but have you thought about how many micronutrients you’re getting?

These vitamins and minerals play an essential role in energy production, strength and muscle repair—and studies suggest that most athletes aren’t getting enough [1].

Part of the reason is that it’s difficult to reach 100% of your nutrient DRVs from food alone [2], and that’s just when you’re sedentary. When you’re training, your requirements shoot up because the physical stress of exercise increases the turnover and loss of nutrients.

Oral supplements have to undergo the long and difficult process of digestion, which means that only a fraction of their nutrient value ends up being absorbed by the body.

Benefits of IV drip therapy for athletes

As you can learn about here, IV drip therapy is the practice of administering nutrients directly into the bloodstream. It bypasses all the stages of digestion, which means that 100% of the nutrients are available for essential bodily functions.

It’s important to acknowledge that there are no high-quality human trials demonstrating the efficacy of IV drip therapy in athletes. However, there is a large body of anecdotal evidence. Dr Alan Gaby, a US doctor and an advocate of IV drip therapy, has given IV drip therapy to thousands of patients and seen it boost athletic performance.

IV drip therapy can help athletes and sport enthusiasts in several ways. These include:

• Optimising hydration
• Reducing muscle soreness
• Supporting muscle strength
• Improving endurance
• Contributing to muscle repair

Here at the London Clinic of Nutrition, we’ve created a nutrient blend specifically for athletes. This offers therapeutic doses of the following nutrients:

Vitamin C

This vitamin not only helps to combat the oxidative damage caused by high-intensity exercise, but it also contributes to collagen synthesis and connective tissue repair.

Glutathione

This is the ‘master antioxidant’ that helps to reduce oxidative stress. In fact, studies show that providing the body with extra glutathione can help to reduce muscle fatigue [4].

Taurine, glycine and lysine

These amino acids are key for muscle repair. Glycine, in particular, increases levels of growth hormone, which promotes the maintenance of lean body mass [5].

L-carnitine

A naturally-occurring amino acid derivative, this has been found to support energy metabolism in skeletal muscle. This means it can further delay muscle fatigue during exercise [6].

L-carnosine

This dipeptide (two amino acids joined together) has been found in some studies to increase strength and performance during exercise [7].

Magnesium

This mineral takes part in more than 300 chemical reactions in the body. Evidence suggests that athletes don’t consume enough of this essential mineral, which may hinder their sporting performance [8].

B vitamins

This family of vitamins plays a key role in energy metabolism. Exercise increases the need for these vitamins—and, like magnesium, not having enough of them can negatively impact performance [9].

Who should have IV drip therapy?

This particular blend of nutrients is suitable for people who engage in higher levels of physical activity. It could be especially useful for:

• Those recovering after a strength or endurance-based event
• Those training for an event, such as a marathon or important game
• Those who take supplements to maximise their performance
• Those determined to feel well so they can stick to their training schedule

Get in touch

Receiving IV drip therapy at the London Clinic of Nutrition is an experience, providing an opportunity to relax for 60-90 minutes while a nurse administers the nutrients. Our central London clinic is within walking distance of Edgeware Road, and Baker Street station.  Took book a session, get in touch here.