Sunday, November 10, 2024

Supplement Savings

Calcium and Vitamin D dietary supplementation in postmenopausal women has the potential to save the US healthcare system as much as $12 billion by 2020.

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk for osteoporosis and related conditions, such as falls and fractures.  An abundance of published studies suggest the bone-building effects of dietary supplementation of calcium and vitamin D.  The Council for Responsible Nutrition released a commissioned report that analyzed the effects of a preventive level of supplementation: 1000 mg calcium and 800 IU vitamin D per day – which costs about 16 cents daily.  Among current users, such supplementation was calculated to save $1,5 billion by 2020; but if the 71% of postmenopausal women who do not currently take the vitamins began supplementation – as much as $12 billion savings could be achieved. The study submits that: “targeted dietary supplementation regimens are recommended as a means to help control rising societal health care costs, and as a means for high-risk individuals to minimize the chance of having to deal with potentially costly events and to invest in increased quality of life.”

Christopher Shanahan, Robert de Lorimier.  “Smart Prevention—Health Care Cost Savings Resulting from the Targeted Use of Dietary Supplements.”  Available at: http://www.crnusa.org/CRNfoundation/HCCS/chapters/CRNFrostSullivan-fullreport0913.pdf

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