A compelling new body of research published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements shows that the use of specific dietary supplements can have a positive effect on health care costs, and long-term health, through avoided hospitalizations related to Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The authors, Drs. Christopher Shanahan and Robert de Lorimier examined the regular use of omega-3 fish oil supplements from a monetary perspective to determine that of the $64 billion spent on CHD hospitalizations on men and women over the age of 55, nearly $2.1 billion could be saved by simply taking optimal doses of omega-3 supplements each year, with an estimated $16.5 billion in saving through the year 2020.
The scientists also evaluated the use of B-complex vitamins and determined that if every high-risk person in the target population were to take B vitamins at preventive intake levels daily, there would be an average of $1.5 billion in avoided expenditures per year and a cumulative of $12.1 billion in unnecessary expenditures by the year 2020. Prior studies have provided solid documentation that omega-3 supplements lower the risk of sudden cardiac death by one-third, and there is an extensive body of research that the full complex of B vitamins are essential to promote optimal heart health and to maintain brain volume as well.
Develop an Optimal Daily Supplementation Plan to Preserve Cellular Nutritional Reserves
The study authors concluded, “This is a relatively low-technology, yet smart, approach that can be used by consumers, physicians, employers, and policymakers as a means to reduce personal and societal health care costs.” This particular study only focused on omega-3 fats and B vitamins. Health-minded individuals already understand that other well studied nutrients and minerals including vitamins D and E, magnesium, zinc and calcium are required to be supplemented at optimal doses each day to dramatically lower the risk of CHD and most other potentially fatal diseases associated with aging and poor lifestyle.
A simple overview of the nutritional value of the standard American diet clearly demonstrates a lack of the most basic micronutrients that we know help to promote health and provide the building blocks for the cellular machinery that supports human existence. Scientists have known for nearly a century that vitamins and minerals are required on a daily or regular basis to fuel our basal metabolic processes that help to sustain life and prevent disease.
It’s important to remember that Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA’s) were established to determine the minimal daily nutrient requirements to prevent common diseases of the past such as scurvy, rickets and pellagra, yet these meager standards don’t even begin to address the ‘Optimal Daily Requirements’ that we now know help to promote vibrant health and prevent long-term deficiencies that can lead to the most pervasive killers of the day: cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke and dementia.
Sources:
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/19390211.2014.952866
http://www.crnusa.org/CRNfoundation/HCCS/CRNF-PR14-Publication-100114.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/283338.php
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and diet, health and nutrition researcher and author with a passion for understanding weight loss challenges and encouraging health modification through natural diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation. John’s passion is to research and write about the cutting edge alternative health technologies that affect our lives. Discover the latest alternative health news concerning diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and weight loss at My Optimal Health Resource
