An economic report released by the CRN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit managed by the Council for Responsible Nutrition, concluded the U.S. could realize billions of dollars in potential savings in healthcare costs from the selective use of certain dietary supplements among people at risk for conditions like cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and more.

The report, “Supplements to Savings: U.S. Health Care Cost Savings from the Targeted Use of Dietary Supplements, 2022–2030,” said only $59 billion in savings are currently being captured. It also specified the chronic diseases avoidable with preventive care, and discussed nine supplements and intake levels needed to realize additional healthcare savings.

“This report is a wake-up call to American healthcare policy makers,” said Michael Meirovitz, director of government relations at CRN. “We must shift our public policy and healthcare spending priorities so American taxpayers can have better health—and pay less for it.”

The report offered evidence that the use of certain dietary supplement ingredients by specific populations can reduce the direct and indirect medical costs associated with a litany of chronic diseases and conditions—coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, age-related macular degeneration, cognitive decline, IBS, and childhood cognitive development disorders.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 75% of the nation’s healthcare spending is for people with chronic conditions. In addition to healthcare spending, these chronic diseases cost the U.S. more than $260 billion annually in lost workforce productivity. The U.S. invests less than 3% of total healthcare expenditures on preventive care services.

“When it comes to healthcare spending for chronic disease, an ounce of prevention is worth billions of pounds of cure,” Meirovitz added.

“Identifying at-risk populations early and providing targeted nutritional interventions like dietary supplements is a cost-effective approach alongside other healthy habits,” said Andrea Wong, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN. “A steadily growing body of clinical research shows investing in preventive care through supplementation helps Americans avoid chronic conditions. This strategy is what we call a no-brainer.”

Potential Savings with Supplementation Among Target Populations

The report was investigated and written by research firm Frost & Sullivan. The research methodology was a cost-benefit analysis comparing disease-attributed risk and implied associated costs in dietary supplement users vs. non-users; and meta-analyses of clinical research studies for dietary supplement ingredients as they relate to reducing the risk of a given condition. Cost savings were determined by using data including target population size, risk reduction of population, and the number of possible avoided events from supplement use.

The report projected that supplementation of omega-3s, magnesium, dietary fiber, or vitamin K2 in high-risk populations could prevent between 81,236 and 301,539 avoidable medical events related to coronary artery disease (CAD) in one year. This amounts to a projected net savings of $13.3-85.3 billion over the study period if these supplements were taken at preventive intake levels, according to the authors. A proportional adjustment of the total potential avoided expenditures and net cost savings by the number of current users means the U.S. could save $12.66-83.84 billion more than it would otherwise.

For osteoporosis, the researchers projected that if high-risk populations took calcium and vitamin D at preventive intake levels, 361,507 avoidable medical events would be prevented, amounting to a net savings of $179.32 billion. Adjusting for those high-risk Americans already taking these supplements, the U.S. could realize $155.41 billion in new savings.

If populations at high risk for age-related macular degeneration were to supplement with lutein and zeaxanthin at preventive intake levels, 21,718 avoidable medical events would be prevented, the authors of the study reported, which would amount to net savings of $959.2 million. Adjusted for current users, the unrealized savings would be $942.7 million.

If the population at high risk of cognitive decline were to supplement with vitamins B6, B9, and B12 at preventive intake levels, 270,642 avoidable medical events would be prevented, resulting in net savings of $109.93 billion. Adjusted for those already supplementing equates to $97.64 billion in savings from 2022-2030.

If high-risk populations for IBS were to take probiotics at preventive intake levels, over 397 million hours of missed work would be prevented, the authors said, or $110.22 billion in net savings. Adjusted for current supplement usage, the additional savings would equate to $94.83 billion.

Finally, if target populations for childhood cognitive development disorders were to take choline at preventive intake levels, an estimated 57,128 avoidable medical events would be prevented, the authors projected, resulting in $1.08 billion in net savings. Factoring for current usage levels, $1.07 billion in savings could be realized.