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NovaCare Home Health in Kissimmee is your safe source for IV therapy in Central Florida. And during these uncertain times of COVID-19, we aim to keep you informed of essential health-related news, such as this recent report on the immune booster, Vitamin C.
Vitamin C infusion treatment does not prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19. Sales of the nutrient have surged this year, because of the hopes of that it’s useful in fighting the deadly coronavirus. According to nutrition and medical experts, claims about its powers are false, unreliable, or at the least premature without conclusive evidence from experimental clinical trials.
The use of the alleged treatment has become so rampant that the FBI recently raided a medical building in metro Detroit, charging Dr. Charles Mok with health care fraud. He is accused of using the coronavirus as an opportunity to bill insurers for administering vitamin C intravenous infusions that were “fraudulently represented as COVID-19 treatments and preventative measures.”
Dr. Mok’s Allure Medical Spa filed nearly 100 claims to insurance companies, including Medicare, related to Vitamin-C infusion therapy for his patients as COVID-19 prevention and treatment, according to the federal criminal complaint against him. His attorney declined to comment.
Since April, the Federal Trade Commission issued at least 37 warning letters to health clinics and wellness centers nationwide, warning them to stop overhyping similar high-dose vitamin C therapies. The FTC accused the clinics of deceptive business practices by illegally marketing vitamin C injections to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19.
Treatments such as these often sell for about $200 and are generally considered safe for patients to receive under proper medical supervision. But they’re not scientifically proven, so hopeful customers might be spending their money on something that may or may not work.
Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, this potent antioxidant has become the subject of faith, controversy, and even frequent government crackdowns during the pandemic. It’s also become more popular than ever, due to zealous claims and beliefs about its effectiveness against the coronavirus despite not even having the power to cure a common cold.
Dr. Daniel Monti, chairman of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, purports that many people generally get enough vitamin C by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, which helps to boost their immune system and improve overall health. Other health care experts agree.
Clinical trials researching COVID-19 vitamin C treatments are pending and could take years before reaching definitive conclusions. Monti’s team at Thomas Jefferson is researching whether Intravenous vitamin C can help stop the progression of the disease and avoid the necessity to put patients on a ventilator.
In clinical trials, intravenous vitamin C has shown promise in treatments for sepsis and some tumor types, Monti said. In contrast, many naturopathic firms and wellness centers continue to offer unproven intravenous vitamin C therapies, saying they the antioxidants boost health and immunity.
The Food and Drug Administration has only approved one type of vitamin C injection for use in the U.S. The product is Ascor by McGuff Pharmaceuticals. It is only approved for short-term use to treat scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. But when the pandemic hit, people looking for a quick cure hoped that consuming large doses of vitamin C would protect the body.