“With healthcare costs for Americans 65 and older expected to reach $16 trillion by the year 2030, the need for innovative and preventative healthcare solutions is clearer than ever,” said Elliott Balbert, DSEA president. “More than 187 million consumers rely on daily use of dietary supplements, and the supplement industry is pleased that this study reinforces the efficacy and health benefits of their usage.”

Underscoring the important health and cost benefits of dietary supplements for the U.S. seniors, members of Congress took one step closer to recognizing the role of dietary supplements in the health regimen of Americans, when Congressman Chris Cannon (R-Utah) today announced the creation of a bipartisan caucus on dietary supplements, which he will co-chair with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.).  Cannon introduced H.R. 1545 earlier this year, which would allow supplement costs to be paid by Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

“As more and more Americans start taking responsibility for their own health, it’s important that government acknowledge the positive impact dietary supplements have on disease prevention, and the substantial cost benefits to the healthcare system that result,” said Cannon. “Clearly, there’s cause for additional research and sound public policy supporting these products, which greatly benefit American consumers and taxpayers alike.”

The study’s key findings centered upon how omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin allow seniors to avoid common conditions such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), helping them live independently longer and reducing the level of disability associated with these conditions.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a qualified health claim for omega-3 fatty acids and a qualified health claim is currently pending for lutein.  The FDA has acknowledged that consumers will benefit from more information on food labels concerning diet and health and this, in turn, has prompted the agency to establish interim procedures whereby "qualified" health claims can be made for dietary supplements.  Health claims characterize a relationship between a substance (specific food component or a specific food) and a disease or health-related condition, and are supported by scientific evidence. All health claims must undergo review by FDA through a petition process. 

The Lewin Group’s analyses of existing research studied the health effects of the two supplements as they relate to reduction in risk of disease progression for adults over age 65. Using Congressional Budget Office cost accounting rules, Lewin calculated a conservative five-year savings estimate.
Key findings from the study include:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids
In 2002, the American Heart Association, using Federal survey data, estimated that 13 million Americans (or 6.9 percent of the U.S. population) suffer from CHD, which disproportionately affects older Americans. The average age Americans experience a first heart attack is 65.8 for men and 70.4 for women. In 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in dietary supplements for preventing CHD by issuing a qualified health claim.

The Lewin Group estimates potential five-year (2006-2010) savings in health care expenditures resulting from a reduction in the occurrence of CHD among the over age-65 population through daily intake of approximately 1800 milligram of omega-3 is $3.1 billion. Approximately 384,303 hospitalizations and physician fees due to CHD could be avoided over the five-year period.

Lutein with Zeaxanthin
Visual impairment is one of the top four reasons for loss of independence. Age-related diseases of the eye are common (e.g., 35 percent of individuals aged 75 and older have AMD) and costly. For example, eighteen percent of all hip fractures among seniors have been attributed to age-related vision loss. The transition to greater dependency, whether through getting more help at home or through moving to a nursing facility, places considerable financial burden on the older person, his or her family, and the health care system.

The Lewin Group estimates five-year (2006-2010) net savings from avoided transitions to dependency associated with a reduction in the relative risk of AMD through daily intake of 6-10 milligrams of lutein with zeaxanthin is $2.5 billion. Across the five year period, approximately 98,219 individuals could avoid the transition to dependence either in the community or a nursing facility that would accompany a loss of central vision resulting from advanced AMD.

“American consumers rely on dietary supplements to improve their overall health and well being, and this study represents a compelling body of evidence that supports what millions of Americans already know,” said John Benninger, president-elect of DSEA. “We hope that The Lewin Group’s most recent study will help further educate the public and policymakers that supplements are good for health, and good for health policy.”