Would you like to save a few billion dollars?

Billion Dollar Baby

Would you like to save a few billion dollars?

Unfortunately I’m not talking about a few billion in savings for you and me personally. (To save that kind of moneywe’d have to own our own oil companies.) But according to a new study, you and I and others could help the U.S. savebillions in health care costs over the next five years.

And even though your share of the savings might be modest, your personal share of wellness could be quitesignificant.

Five year plan

There are special interests in the mainstream medical community that have no motivation whatsoever to lower the costof health care. Let’s face it, as medical bills rise, someone out there is getting very wealthy. This e-Alert isn’tfor them. It’s for you and me, our neighbors, friends and family. In other words, this is for anyone who’s concernedabout the astonishing and steady increase in the cost of health care.

Last year, researchers at the Lewin Group (a health care consulting and research firm) were commissioned by theDietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA) to estimate the potential health care savings that might result if allAmericans over the age of 65 regularly took these two supplements for five years:

• Omega-3 fatty acids (1,800 mg per day)
• A combination of lutein and zeaxanthin (6-10 mg per day)

Based on the known cardiovascular benefits associated with omega-3 supplements that contain EPA and DHA, the Lewin

team offered a “conservative” estimate that reduced physician fees and hospitalizations would result in more than $3billion in savings over five years.

And based on the proven vision benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin supplements, researchers estimated that more than98,000 seniors would avoid age-related vision loss, fractures associated with vision loss, and dependence on nursingfacilities. The resulting health care savings might be as much as $2.5 billion over five years.

Closer than the eye

The Lewin research is very promising, but if the economic advantage of omega-3 intake was based strictly on hearthealth benefits, I think their estimate for overall health care savings might actually be quite low. When EPA(eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docohexaenoic acid) are combined, these two essential fatty acids have been shownto contribute to the prevention of heart disease, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, influenza,hyperactivity, and even some forms of cancer.

Dark meat fish and fish oil supplements are the best sources of omega-3 with EPA and DHA.

As for lutein and zeaxanthin, they’re the only dietary carotenoids present in the lens of the eye. Previous studieshave indicated that a sufficient intake of these nutrients may protect the lens and reduce the risk of developingcataracts and macular degeneration, the two leading forms of age-related vision loss.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are key components of a phytochemical called xanthophylls, a powerful antioxidant that has theunique characteristic of being able to cross the blood brain barrier more easily than most other antioxidants. (Theblood brain barrier is a protective mechanism that prevents illness from spreading to neurologically sensitiveareas, but it also stops many beneficial substances from getting through and protecting those areas.)

Good food sources of xanthophylls include corn, kiwi, red seedless grapes, orange-colored peppers, spinach, celery,Brussels sprouts, scallions, broccoli and squash.

Sources:
“Supplements Reduce Health Care Costs, Shows Study” NutraIngredients-USA, 11/3/05, nutraingredients-usa.com