Did you know that blood circulation can help the body with optimal functioning? A healthy blood flow, especially in the legs, can foster oxygen supply and muscle recovery. 

It’s not unusual for our IV therapy Toronto lounge to administer vitamin drips for health goals linked to circulation. The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) emphasizes the impact of leg blood circulation in this article, and how to potentially improve this with supplements and a nutritional drip. 

Understanding the importance of leg circulation

According to WebMD, “your heart pumps about 10 pints of blood 60,000 miles around your body through your circulatory system,” and this happens on a daily basis! Your blood carries oxygen and other nutrients to your body parts, while filtering carbon dioxide and other impurities. Indeed, blood circulation keeps the human body functioning, affecting mental clarity, physical exertions, and immune function. 

The legs are common areas where patients tend to struggle with circulation. This is not a surprise to us – many occupations require extensive amounts of time sitting, which can make it difficult to pencil in exercise. And keep in mind, we need physical activity for sustaining our heart health and a healthy blood flow. Poor leg circulation can come with uncomfortable symptoms, too, such as chronic fatigue, erectile dysfunction, cognitive function issues (i.e. memory loss, brain fog), varicose veins, cramping, and cold/tingling feeling in the feet.

Living in the Western world comes with the busy-ness of jobs, family lives, finances and more, and sometimes go-to meals are consumed, such as microwavable options. Excessive amounts of processed foods can cause detriment to our levels of vitamins, minerals, major antioxidants, and more, and negatively impact our blood circulation. 

If you were to visit our functional medicine clinicians regarding leg circulation, they may inquire about your nutrient intake; this is because lacking amounts of nutrients can hinder blood circulation. Thus, depending on your personal lab results, we may recommend oral supplementation and/or intravenous therapy. 

Suggested Reading: 4 Anti-Aging Nutrients to Consider for IV therapy in Toronto

Optimal nutrients for improving blood circulation in the legs

Oral supplementation can be consumed as tablets, capsules or liquid, and in addition to this, altering your dietary intake with whole foods or a Mediterranean style could help sustain leg circulation. This is because processed foods can contribute to forming a nutritional deficiency, as they contain minimal concentrations of nutrients. 

An intravenous infusion with essential nutrients may be prescribed if you’re concerned with sustaining your absorption of vitamins. Patients may opt for intravenous drips if they suffer from malabsorption or an aversion to pill-swallowing. Vitamin IV therapy allows for nutrients to enter the vein so that they can be immediately absorbed into your blood stream without digestion. This process may offer speedy results, as oral supplementation does require ample time to sift through the digestive tract. 

So which nutrients do we recommend for supporting leg circulation? Check out the table below: 

Nutrient	What it does for leg circulation
B complex	These products contain a plethora of vitamin B’s including vitamin B2, which helps with red blood cell formation and cardiovascular health support.
Vitamin B12	Synchronizes your body’s use of homocysteine, a type of amino acid that helps form blood clotting. B12 helps with the functioning of nerves and offers aid for keeping your blood cells healthy.
Vitamin C	Also called ascorbic acid, it’s notable for its wound-healing properties, and may contribute to the healing and support of vein membranes. In fact, “Low levels of vitamin C in the blood are linked to a…severe form of peripheral artery disease,” confirms ScienceDaily.
Vitamin D	Your veins need to contract efficiently, and this nutrient can foster this. Vitamin D can be supplemented to help prevent vein stiffness, which is known to disrupt blood flow.
Vitamin E	As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E can help prevent blood platelets from bundling and attaching to your vein walls. It may also counteract leg cramping from weak blood circulation.
Vitamin K	This fat-soluble vitamin can help maintain the health of bones, the healing of wounds, and the condition of your blood vessels. According to one study, K2 could contribute to improving blood flow by regulating levels of calcium in the body.
L-arginine	This is a type of amino acid that has demonstrated positive benefits on blood circulation. In one study of adults 40-65 years of age with blood pressure issues, it was shown that taking L-arginine with B6, folic acid, and B12 led to lowered blood pressure and significant improvements to blood vessels.
Niacin	Known for regulating “bad” cholesterol, which can contribute to blood flow restrictions. It also encourages blood vessels to be flexible in dilation, which allows for blood to travel through the vessels for circulation.
Potassium	Potassium has been shown to strengthen the walls of your blood vessels, while helping to avoid vein bulging. This can encourage the smooth movement of your blood flow.

*Note: some of the nutrients listed in the table are available as either vitamin IV therapy or injection therapy in our IV Lounge. Please contact us for additional details.

So, if your health concerns are linked to physical performances, cognitive function, and muscle health, the use of key nutrients could instill beneficial effects. Please reach out to the TFMC to tailor your treatment plan today. 

How our IV Lounge works

The TFMC embraces a patient-centred approach to wellness. In many cases, a treatment that works for one patient may not agree with another. We customize treatment modalities to address your unique biological needs, such as liver detoxification, food sensitivities, mineral deficiencies, poor energy levels, weakened immune health, chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and other health concerns. 

We adhere to the functional medicine model, which recognizes the uniqueness of each patient’s health condition. First, we understand the core components of your individuality, such as genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors, along with results from functional tests. Then, we can design a treatment plan for your needs, which may include Western medicine, naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, Chinese medicine, herbal ingredients, hormone replacement therapies, acupuncture, and more. 

We also use the functional medicine model to tailor IV doses of nutrients. Adjunctive intravenous therapy can be part of your treatment plan, and a custom-made IV drip is designed with natural ingredients suited for your needs. A wide range of nutrients are available from us including ascorbic acid, vitamins A and E, folic acid, trace minerals, B vitamins (i.e. vitamin B1 and B2), glutamic acid with a medley of amino acids, alpha lipoic acid, and more. Vitamin D injections can also be prescribed. Our IV therapy drips are administered in our in-house IV Lounge, where we freshly compound vitamin drips daily. We take safety seriously, so IV sessions are monitored by our wellness team (medical doctor, naturopathic practitioner, registered nurses and nurse practitioners). Please reach us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your treatments. 

In addition to a healthy lifestyle and functional medicine treatments, IV therapy in Toronto can promote optimal health. Please call 416-968-6961 to request your initial visit with a TFMC healthcare provider. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

 

References

Al Mheid I, Patel R, Murrow J, Morris A, Rahman A, Fike L, Kavtaradze N, Uphoff I, Hooper C, Tangpricha V, Alexander RW, Brigham K, Quyyumi AA. Vitamin D status is associated with arterial stiffness and vascular dysfunction in healthy humans. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 Jul 5;58(2):186-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.02.051. PMID: 21718915; PMCID: PMC3896949.

American Heart Association. “Low Vitamin C Levels Linked To Inflammation In People With Severe Leg Artery Disease.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 April 2001. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/04/010411082248.htm>.

“Improve Poor Leg Circulation” from WebMD, medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 20, 2021,

 written by Alexandra Benisek, viewed on January 30, 2024. 

Kleijnen J, Mackerras D. Vitamin E for intermittent claudication. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;1998(2):CD000987. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000987. PMID: 10796571; PMCID: PMC8406456.

Knapen MH, Braam LA, Drummen NE, Bekers O, Hoeks AP, Vermeer C. Menaquinone-7 supplementation improves arterial stiffness in healthy postmenopausal women. A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Thromb Haemost. 2015 May;113(5):1135-44. doi: 10.1160/TH14-08-0675. Epub 2015 Feb 19. PMID: 25694037.

Menzel D, Haller H, Wilhelm M, Robenek H. L-Arginine and B vitamins improve endothelial function in subjects with mild to moderate blood pressure elevation. Eur J Nutr. 2018 Mar;57(2):557-568. doi: 10.1007/s00394-016-1342-6. Epub 2016 Nov 5. PMID: 27817128; PMCID: PMC5845626.

Rodrigues-Krause J, Krause M, Rocha IMGD, Umpierre D, Fayh APT. Association of l-Arginine Supplementation with Markers of Endothelial Function in Patients with Cardiovascular or Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2018 Dec 20;11(1):15. doi: 10.3390/nu11010015. PMID: 30577559; PMCID: PMC6357192.