Regular Use Of Dietary Supplements Could Save $15 Billion

Industry expert agree that the consistent use of dietary supplements offers consumers long-term health benefits by reducing the incidence of certain debilitating health conditions. The results of a recent study provide evidence to support both the cost savings and quality-of-life benefits of specific nutritional supplements. The results, released September 22 by the Lewin Group, show that daily use of calcium could prevent 734,000 hip fractures and save $13.9 billion in health care costs over the next five years. Daily use of folic acid by women could prevent 600 cases of neural tube birth defects yearly, saving $1.3 billion in lifetime medical costs over five years. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and saw palmetto supplements also showed substantial promise for improving health and quality of life and potentially reducing health care costs.

Jeffrey Blumberg, professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University stated "As our country faces an ever-growing crisis in health care, it is important to recognize the role that dietary supplements can play in reducing our burden of disease and the costs to manage it."