To observe National Heart Month in February, the Council for Responsible Nutrition has highlighted a number of key findings from an economic report, “Supplements to Savings: U.S. Health Care Cost Savings from the Targeted Use of Dietary Supplements, 2022-2030.”
 
The full report covers projected health care savings by way of targeted supplementation for coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, age-related macular degeneration, cognitive decline, IBS, and childhood cognitive development disorders. The full report was initially published in August 2022.
 
In addition to other healthcare costs, the report concluded that, based on available evidence, the U.S. could experience $17.74 billion in annual net savings on healthcare costs if specific dietary supplements are used by at-risk target populations most susceptible to coronary artery disease (CAD).
 
Prevention vs. Intervention
 
“The Supplements to Savings findings demonstrate that particular ingredients, taken at preventative daily intake levels and supported by a strong track record of research that documents their effects, can not only provide heart health benefits to the target population, but also can have significant positive financial implications to our country’s healthcare system,” said CRN president and CEO Steve Mister.
 
“We hope this report will help us re-think how we approach health care,” Mister continued. “Today, most of our health care resources are spent after people are already afflicted with an ailment. This analysis demonstrates the impact of some conditions, including CAD, may be reduced with appropriate supplement regimens. We hope the broader medical community will take notice and evaluate how supplements can enhance nutrition and improve the overall health of their patients.”
 
The study, commissioned by the CRN Foundation and conducted by Frost & Sullivan, provided analysis on the projected risk reductions for omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, vitamin K2, and soluble fiber.  
 
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
 
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are the most well-researched dietary supplement ingredients available, and have a large body of evidence supporting their role in cardiovascular health outcomes, CRN reports.
 
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has permitted the use of qualified health claims for EPA and DHA for coronary heart disease since 2004 and for hypertension since 2019. According to the report, the annual average cost savings from the widespread daily use of preventive amounts of EPA and DHA could be $4.47 billion per year between 2022 and 2030.
 
Magnesium
 
In 2022, FDA announced a qualified health claim for products containing magnesium for the reduction of blood pressure, a contributing factor for CAD. This was thanks to scientific research which demonstrated a link between magnesium use and blood pressure reduction, particularly during the past 10 years.
 
According to CRN’s projections, regular use of magnesium by specific at-risk populations could avoid an average of 102,382 events each year between 2022 and 2030, with an average healthcare cost savings of $2.32 billion per year.
 
Vitamin K2
 
Vitamin K2 has been evidenced in clinical studies to support both cardiovascular and bone health due to its role in minimizing coronary artery calcium accumulation, a risk factor for CAD, along with increasing calcium content in bone. According to the report’s estimates, the expanded targeted use of vitamin K2 by specific populations could reduce CAD-attributed medical events by 15.7%, and generate an estimated cost savings to the U.S. healthcare system of $9.48 billion each year between 2022 and 2030.
 
Soluble Fiber
 
FDA has authorized health claims for soluble fibers from certain foods, including psyllium husk and beta-glucan from oat and barley, and their ability to reduce the risk of heart disease.
 
These ingredients are also available as dietary supplements which can be used to ensure recommended intake levels. The report found an average cost savings of $1.47 billion per year in healthcare costs from the increased utilization of soluble fiber.