One celeb-loved wellness treatment may not B healthy after all.<\/p>\n
Vitamin infusions<\/a> \u2014 which deliver mixtures of vitamins, minerals and other supplements into the bloodstream through an IV \u2014 are growing in popularity thanks to claims that they quickly boost energy, immunity and hydration.<\/p>\n IV hydration spas offering these pricey therapies are popping up across the US to meet the rising demand.<\/p>\n Vitamin infusions, which deliver supplements directly into your veins, are beloved by celebrities and influencers. A new investigation raises concerns about their safety and efficacy. Peakstock \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But a new Yale study warns<\/a> that the billion-dollar IV hydration industry is highly unregulated and there\u2019s little medical evidence that these infusions actually help \u2014 in fact, there have been reports<\/a> of infections and contaminated products.<\/p>\n These businesses are operating \u201calmost completely without evidence,\u201d Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest and co-author of the study, told NBC News<\/a>. \u201cAs a result, there\u2019s a real danger to consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n Lurie\u2019s team analyzed 255 clinic websites and performed a \u201csecret shopper\u201d study of 87 randomly selected facilities to review everything from prescriber credentials and dispensing practices to product offerings and claims.<\/p>\n There are no federal standards for medical spas \u2014 regulation is left to the states, paving the way for a patchwork of inconsistent rules.<\/p>\n This figure from the study shows how states fared in four oversight categories \u2014 governance, prescriber credentials, dispensing practices and compounding practices, as of last year. JAMA Internal Medicine<\/p>\n \u201cFrom facility website reviews and secret shopper calls, it was found that spa practices \u2026 varied widely with respect to product offerings, product claims and staffing,\u201d the researchers wrote Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cClaims most often suggested immune system support while providing minimal evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n