New Study Reveals Use Of Dietary Supplements Is One Of The Strategies To Reduce Healthcare Costs

Over two thousand years ago, the Roman poet Virgil once said that "the greatest wealth is health." The statement remains relevant today due to the rising costs of healthcare and hospitalization. 

Spending on health-related expenses can put a dent in your pocket. But, unfortunately, even the economy suffers when more people get sick. According to a previous report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over $147 billion in losses on job productivity is taking a toll on the country's economy.

Because of this problem, it is crucial to learn the secrets of how to reduce healthcare costs. Fortunately, more studies proved that there are ways to decrease the money you need to shell out to take care of your health. 

One of the latest reports published by the CRN Foundation looked into the possibility of reducing the cost of healthcare by using certain types of dietary supplements to prevent different diseases. 

You can read this article to learn more about the dietary supplements you can take to help prevent common ailments. Avoiding staggering expenses is one of the most effective strategies to reduce the high costs of healthcare.

Dietary Supplements: Everything You Need to Know

The US Food and Drug Administration defines dietary supplements as the products added to a person's diet to supplement nutrition aside from the usual food. It may be considered a drug if manufactured to help alleviate or avoid different diseases. 

Also, dietary supplements must be ingested and sold in various forms, including capsules, tablets, gel caps, soft gels, bars, powders, gummies, and ready-to-use liquid suspensions. 

The most common supplements you can find in the market include: 

• Vitamins - Including multivitamins or singular vitamins like vitamin D and vitamin C
• Minerals - Including iron, magnesium, and calcium
• Botanical compounds - Including curcumin and caffeine
• Herbs or botanicals - Including ginger and echinacea 
• Live microbial - Also known as probiotics 
• Amino acids - Including glutamine and tryptophan

What Supplements to Take to Reduce Healthcare Costs

The report mentioned several dietary supplements to help address various diseases and reduce healthcare costs. 

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Coronary Artery Disease 

One of the dominant causes of death in the US is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), also known as Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). According to the CDC, the disease took as many as 659,000 lives annually. 

Meanwhile, the US Department of Health & Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimated that about 13.4 million adults in the US aged 55 and above used an in-patient medical service or received emergency room treatment in 2022 due to CAD. 

According to the CRN Foundation report, this disease alone will cost approximately $432.58 billion in healthcare losses and productivity losses in 2022. 

Because of the prevalence of this disease, preventive measures are crucial to reduce the need to spend on CAD management services. One way to do this is to use dietary supplements like Omega-3 to improve cardiovascular health. 

Studies claim that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and algae can significantly reduce the risk of CAD events. In addition, Omega-3 dietary supplements combined with Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) can reduce the chances of having the disease by 10%. 

You must use Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplements with pure triglyceride EPA and DHA to help protect your heart from dreaded coronary diseases. It would be best to look for this supplement with vitamin D, like Omega+D3, for better heart health. 

The report also mentioned other vital supplements to help prevent CAD. Examples include Magnesium, Vitamin K, and Soluble Fiber supplements. 

Osteoporosis 

The reduced quality of bone and mineral density happens if you have Osteoporosis. It has become a primary healthcare and economic problem in the US for years, especially when patients experience osteoporotic fractures. 

Based on Medicare claims (of the CRN Foundation report), a 2014 study stated that hip fractures' direct and indirect economic impact could reach as much as $50,000 per case. In addition, approximately 70% of the expenses go to post-fracture disabilities. 

One way to prevent it is to boost bone health using dietary supplements like Calcium and Vitamin D. 

You can naturally obtain calcium from dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. You can also get this nutrient from seafood and other plant-based products like broccoli. 

Meanwhile, Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption, and you can get this nutrient naturally through healthy sun exposure. However, getting enough Vitamin D doses during the winter and other cloudy days can be challenging. 

You may compensate for your Calcium and Vitamin D needs by taking dietary supplements rich in these nutrients. It can significantly reduce the risk of Osteoporosis by 19.7%.   

Age-Related Macular Degeneration 

People aged 50 and above risk developing a degenerative eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Those who have it experience the deterioration of the macula or the retina's central part. 

According to the report, the total healthcare costs of patients in the US with low vision or blindness may reach $39,301 in 2021, increasing to $43,458 by 2030. 

You may prevent AMD by taking supplements rich in Lutein and Zeaxanthin. These Xanthophylls are usually part of the human diet.

Supplements like Immune Boost come with research doses of Lutein and Zeaxanthin. It can also help in protecting your eyes from blue light damage. 

Regularly taking these supplements promotes better eyesight and may help slow your body's aging process. It can also help in improving your immune system. 

Cognitive Decline 

Cognitive impairment is another age-related disorder that significantly impacts the nation's medical services and long-term dependency care. 

While this condition is common for aging people, several factors can turn cognitive decline into severe neurodegenerative disorders like Vascular Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. 

The CRN Foundation Report cited research conducted by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, stating that the cost of managing neurodegenerative diseases in the US reached $259 billion in the US. Fortunately, the risk of having these disorders can be minimized by using Vitamin B supplements. 

Immune Boost contains essential Vitamin B complexes like Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9 (Folate), and Vitamin B12. With the help of these nutrients, the metabolization of the amino acid homocysteine helps slow cognitive decline. 

Aside from helping you fight aging, taking Vitamin B supplements will help reduce your risk of severe cognitive impairment when you reach your advanced age. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

While the Irritable Bowel System (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal tract disorder, it can cause pain to a patient. It can also leave an impact on the patient's quality of life. 

IBM may cause absenteeism from work. Based on the report, 7.94 million people in the US have IBS. Therefore, it may result in thousands of dollars lost to medical costs and productivity losses. It may also lead to potential tax losses and higher expenses for healthcare and social welfare. 

Supplements can also help reduce the risk of IBS. For example, dietary supplements with Probiotics and Prebiotics can help improve digestion. You can take Probiotic+Prebiotic to help avoid IBS symptoms. 

Early Childhood Development Disorders 

Studies claim that choline disorders among pregnant women may affect the maximum cognitive development of their unborn child. However, a report from NHANES revealed that more than 90% of expectant mothers do not have adequate choline in their diet. 

Research blames the lack of this nutrient on babies' poor spinal cord and brain development. But if you have enough of this nutrient during pregnancy, you will reduce the chances of congenital fetal disabilities. 

Taking choline-rich supplements like Focus is best to safely and effectively protect the baby in your tummy. It also helps reduce brain fog naturally. 

Taking supplements to help reduce the risk of acquiring these diseases can be one of the best actions you can take to protect your body. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Take Dietary Supplements?

Investing in supplements can significantly boost your overall health and manage some ailments. In addition, it can be your first course of action to reduce healthcare costs. 

Who Should Take Supplements? 

Everyone can benefit from dietary supplements, even those with no health disorders. 

Can I Take Supplements Daily? 

You must replenish water-soluble vitamins daily, avoiding skipping them to get the most benefit. But you do not have to take fat-soluble nutrients daily to prevent them from getting stored in the liver. 

Minimal Investment in Supplements Mean Big-Time Savings in Healthcare Costs

Adding dietary supplements to your nutritional routine will help boost your health and protect your body from various diseases. It may add more to your regular budget. Still, it will be far less expensive than what you need to pay for hospitalization and other treatments.