Medical Expert Raises Concerns About Popular Wellness Treatments Like IV Therapy and Peptides

As “Fox & Friends” continues its Wellness Week series, medical experts are questioning whether trendy health treatments like IV vitamin drips and peptide injections deliver on their promises or simply represent costly, potentially risky interventions with limited scientific support.

During a recent segment, host Lawrence Jones participated in IV therapy at a clinic where staff claimed the treatment—containing B vitamins, high-dose vitamin C, magnesium and amino acids—would improve stress levels, enhance overall wellness, and make patients “less likely to get sick.” The clinician also promoted NAD, asserting it would “clear up any brain fog” and be “amazing for physical injury,” while assuring Jones there were “no negative side effects.”

However, Dr. Mike Varshavski, a New Jersey-based family medicine physician, expressed significant concerns about these claims and the lack of informed consent during the treatment.

“It’s tough to say what actually happened in that visit because there were a lot of promises being made,” Dr. Varshavski noted. He compared the human body to a car’s fuel tank, warning that “putting more and having it spill all over the place just creates added side effects.”

The physician emphasized that contrary to popular belief, excessive supplementation can be harmful. Fat-soluble vitamins “can actually build up in your fat stores and create toxicities,” he explained, adding that research has associated high levels of vitamin B with an increased cancer risk.

IV vitamin therapy has gained significant popularity in wellness circles over the past decade, with celebrity endorsements helping fuel a multimillion-dollar industry. Clinics have proliferated across major cities, often charging $100-300 per session for treatments marketed as energy boosters, hangover cures, or immunity enhancers. Despite widespread commercial availability, medical consensus generally holds that IV vitamins provide little benefit to individuals without specific deficiencies or medical conditions.

Dr. Varshavski also addressed other popular supplements during the segment. He expressed support for creatine, stating it “actually has great evidence behind it” for enhancing explosive athletic movements, though he clarified it accounts for only about “5% of total fitness enhancements.” Creatine has been extensively studied since the 1990s and remains one of the few supplements consistently backed by research for improving physical performance.

In stark contrast, Dr. Varshavski described unregulated injectable peptides as “incredibly frightening.” Peptides—short chains of amino acids that serve various signaling functions in the body—have gained significant popularity for purported outcomes like building muscle, healing injuries, or appearing younger. However, the physician cautioned that the FDA does not regulate many of these products, leaving consumers vulnerable to “black-market” substances labeled “for research use only.”

The peptide market has exploded in recent years, with the global peptide therapeutics market expected to reach nearly $50 billion by 2027. While some peptides are FDA-approved medications for specific conditions, many others are sold through compounding pharmacies or wellness clinics without rigorous testing or quality control.

Medical experts note that celebrity endorsements and social media have accelerated the popularity of these treatments despite limited scientific validation. The wellness industry, valued at over $4.5 trillion globally, continues to introduce products and services that often outpace regulatory oversight and scientific validation.

Dr. Varshavski concluded with a cautionary message about vitamins and purported miracle treatments: “It’s not as simple as more equals better.” This warning comes as consumers increasingly turn to alternative wellness interventions, often without consulting healthcare providers about potential risks or interactions with other medications.

Health authorities recommend consulting with qualified healthcare providers before pursuing trendy wellness treatments and to remain skeptical of treatments making extraordinary claims without substantial scientific evidence.