DSEA study finds health care savings

Vicky Uhland
12/1/2005

A study finding that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin could save American senior citizens $5.6 billion in health care costs during the next five years has resulted in the formation of a bipartisan Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

The study, commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance and released Nov.  2, was conducted by The Lewin Group, a Falls Church, Va.-based health care consulting firm.  A similar study, which found that regular intake of calcium and folic acid could save more than $15 billion in health care costs over five years, was released in 2004.

The Lewin Group analyzed hundreds of studies conducted over the last 30 years on omega-3s and lutein with zeaxanthin.  The group concluded that an 1,800 milligram daily dose of omega-3s [2 servings of Shaklee Omega-3 Complex (6 capsules)] could reduce coronary heart disease in people over age 65, resulting in 384,303 fewer hospitalizations over the next five years and a consequent $3.1 billion savings in health care expenditures.

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Seniors who take 6 milligrams to 10 milligrams a day of lutein with zeaxanthin [2 Shaklee CarotoMax] could reduce their susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration, The Lewin Group found.  During the next five years, that would result in 98,219 fewer people losing their independence because of advanced AMD, saving $2.5 billion in care giving costs.

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Although this year’s Lewin Group study wasn’t as widely reported as last year’s, . . . the findings resulted in the creation of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

“This is the first-ever assembly of congressional representatives that will collectively be supporting our interests,” he said.  “It puts their views in a public forum and sends a message to their colleagues that there is bipartisan support for continued availability and access to these vital products.”

The caucus, headed by Reps. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Dan Burton, R-Ind., is still in the formation stage, said Cannon’s spokesman, Charles Isom.  “We have three co-chairs, and we’re looking for a fourth to make it bipartisan.”

Isom said the caucus’ goal is to “educate members of Congress—in a bipartisan manner—regarding dietary supplement use, and to promote health and well-being.”

Balbert said DSEA plans to commission further studies on supplements’ role in reducing health care costs.  “The industry lobbyists used [the 2004 study] extensively in all lobbying efforts,” and reports had been highly favorable, he said.

SOURCE:  Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVI/number 12/p.  7