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AHPA Update November 3, 2005
As the American population ages and U.S. healthcare costs skyrocket, taking certain dietary supplements could help seniors live independently longer, and offset healthcare expenditures by billions of dollars, a new study by The Lewin Group finds. The supplements studied — omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin — have reported savings of $3.1 billion and $2.5 billion respectively over five years, resulting from reduced hospitalizations, physicians’ visits, and avoided transitions to dependency, the report shows.
“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, president of the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance, which sponsored the study. “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-NJ). 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 study findings as well as the launch of the new caucus were announced in Washington DC yesterday, at a press conference and a Capitol Hill briefing. For details on the Health Impact Study, visit the DSEA website: www.supplementinfo.org.
Karen Robin
Director of Communications
American Herbal Products Association
8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 370
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Telephone: (301) 588-1171, x-107
Email: KRobin@ahpa.org
www.ahpa.org
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