Supplements Are Gaining Popularity to Save Healthcare Costs

 

Each year, the US healthcare system spends billions of dollars treating patients with chronic diseases. Chronic disease in the US is rampant with approximately 44% of all Americans suffering from at least one chronic disease. These statistics could be attributed to modern Western diet and lifestyle which is linked to numerous diseases. But it may also be linked to the US’s lack of preventative care measures. 

 

In the US, 75% of the 2 trillion dollars spent on healthcare goes towards treating chronic disease. In contrast, just 3% is spent on preventative care. If the US wants to reduce costs spent on healthcare, we as a nation should aim to reduce our risk of disease. More money should be spent on preventative measures to reduce the number of people treated for chronic diseases each year. 

Nutritional Supplements for Preventative Health Care

To date, numerous studies have been done on the health benefits of natural dietary supplements. Supplements can be a safe and effective way to treat many health conditions and may help prevent or reverse certain diseases. Furthermore, natural supplements are less expensive than pharmaceutical drugs used to treat chronic diseases. They are also non-addictive and have generally few negative side effects. 

 

The use of dietary supplements for preventative care is just recently being considered as a way to cut healthcare spending while also improving the quality of life of those living with chronic disease. The Smart Prevention—Health Care Cost Savings Resulting from the Targeted Use of Dietary Supplements report from Frost and Sullivan contains data from hundreds of studies involving the use of dietary supplements for treating high risk individuals (adults over 55 years old) with certain chronic diseases. 

 

The results from the studies concluded that an aggressive supplement regimen can cut costs on healthcare spending by millions to billions of dollars each year. The studies included the use of certain supplement combinations to treat common chronic diseases (coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and age-related eye disease) that afflict nearly half of Americans:

 

Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D: Calcium and magnesium can be found in foods like dairy, broccoli, nuts, and grains. Vitamin D is found in some fortified foods but is mainly absorbed by your skin from the sun. All 3 nutrients maintain bone health and strength. 

 

A supplement combo of these nutrients was used in patients with osteoporosis. The cost savings for this combination ranged from $1.08 billion per year for calcium with vitamin D and $530 million per year for magnesium. 

 

Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found in plant foods that support your eye health, particularly the macula region. Taking these supplements can reduce risk of age-related eye diseases (such as macular degeneration and cataracts) by 23% and save $930 million per year in healthcare costs. 

 

Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, and Folate: B-vitamins play an important role in many functions of our body. They are found in foods such as meat, eggs, and dark leafy green vegetables. Vitamins B-6, B-12, and folate help reduce risk of heart related problems, like coronary heart disease, and can help cut healthcare costs by $560 million each year. 

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) has been shown to reduce risk of coronary heart disease by providing numerous heart health benefits. Omega-3s are found most in fatty fish like mackerel, tuna, and swordfish. According to the report, Omega-3s can save the US healthcare system $930 million per year. 

 

Psyllium Dietary Fiber: Psyllium is a soluble fiber that comes from the plant, Plantago ovata. When given to patients with coronary heart disease, psyllium fiber can save the US 2.3 billion dollars by reducing risk of heart disease by 11.5%. 

 

Phytosterols: Phytosterols or, plant sterols, are found in plant foods and can help control blood cholesterol levels. Phytosterol use can cut coronary heart disease related costs by $3.3 billion dollars due to its ability to cut risk by 11.2%

 

Chromium Picolinate: Chromium picolinate is another form of chromium. Chromium picolinate may help the body process carbohydrates and fats and can stimulate weight loss. The supplement can save nearly $970 million each year for diabetes- attributed to coronary heart disease spending.  

Nutritional Supplements Have an Important Role in Healthcare

Based on the findings of the report, it’s hard to argue that nutritional supplements not only save money but may also save lives. When combined with other healthy lifestyle factors, the simple act of taking a multivitamin or dietary supplement each day may reduce your risk of life-threatening diseases. Why wait until you are sick to take care of your health? By taking preventative measures today, you improve your chances of living a more fulfilling, disease-free life. 

 

Natural supplements can play an important role in the health of our nation. They may be the key to helping reverse the effects of a nutrient deficient Western diet. When your body lacks vital nutrients, you are more at risk for developing an array of health conditions, including disease. With the entire healthcare system working together to encourage the use of regular supplement intake, we may become a much healthier society. 

 

To save more money and lives, doctors should more readily prescribe supplement regimens to their patients to treat and prevent illness. Large companies should offer employees incentives to take their vitamins or offer them as part of an employee wellness package. Finally, individuals should consider taking supplements as part of a healthy lifestyle. 

In Conclusion

Healthcare spending in the US is skyrocketing and it's mostly due to preventable diseases. The Western diet and lifestyle play a major role in the health of our nation yet dietary supplements can reduce some of the ill effects. Chronic disease is not only expensive but painful and life threatening. By incorporating nutritional supplements into a regimen for preventative care, we can save money and improve quality of life for those suffering with chronic disease.