Supplement use could save U.S. $24 billion

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[lef.org]

 

Supplement use could save U.S. $24 billion

 

A report released this month by the Dietary Supplement Education

Alliance (DSEA) concluded that the use of dietary supplements by

specific American populations could result in a savings of at least 24

billion in health care costs over a five year period. The current report

updates a similar report commissioned by DSEA in 2005 which estimated

5.6 billion dollars in savings over five years.

 

The report re-emphasizes that supplementing select groups with calcium

and vitamin D, folic acid, omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs), and

lutein with zeaxanthin could have a tremendous impact on health care

expenditure. In the summary of the findings, the report states that the

use of calcium and vitamin D by postmenopausal women could potentially

avoid approximately 776,00 hospitalizations for hip fractures and a

significant number of extended nursing facility stays for this group,

resulting in a savings of 16.1 billion dollars.

 

If folic acid were used by the 44 million American women of childbearing

age, 600 fewer infants would be born with neural tube defects, resulting

in a savings of 1.4 billion dollars over five years. Omega-3 fatty acid

supplementation in the amount of 1800 milligrams per day among those

over the age of 65 would result in a 3.2 billion dollar savings, and

avoidance of 374,301 hospitalizations over the next five years. And just

6 to 10 milligrams lutein with zeaxanthin per day is estimated to save

$3.6 billion by preventing 190,927 individuals from losing their

independence due to loss of central vision resulting from macular

degeneration.

 

" Rapidly escalating health care costs in the U.S. have severe

implications for our society as a whole " DSEA president Jon Benninger

stated. " This study provides valuable data that may lead to preventative

health care solutions and address the budgetary problems facing federal

and state health insurance programs, corporate health cost managers and

individual families. "

 

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services and

Department of Agriculture, & ldquo;The Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary

Guidelines for Americans acknowledges that some Americans may need a

vitamin and/or mineral supplement to meet specific nutrient

needs. & rdquo; In view of the potential savings for an overburdened

health care system alone, not to mention the prevention of a significant

amount of suffering and disability, the consistent use of nutritional

supplements by at-risk groups could greatly benefit these populations,

as well as our society as a whole.