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NEWS RELEASE
www.crnusa.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Judy Blatman (CRN)
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DOCUMENTS HEALTH BENEFITS OF MULTIVITAMINS, OTHER NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLEMENTS- New CRN Report Shows Simple Addition of Multivitamin to Diet Can Keep Health Risks At Bay -WASHINGTON, D.C., June 24, 2002-
Consistent use of multivitamins and other key supplementscan promote good health and help prevent disease, according to a comprehensive new report releasedtoday by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). The report found that ongoing use ofmultivitamins (preferably with minerals) and other single-nutrient supplements (like calcium or folicacid) demonstrated quantifiable positive impact in areas ranging from strengthening the immunesystem of highly-vulnerable elderly patients, to drastically reducing the risk of neural tube birthdefects such as spina bifida.The 100-plus page report-titled TheBenefits of Nutritional Supplements-reviewed morethan a decade's-worth of the most scientifically-significant studies measuring the health benefits ofmultivitamins and other nutritional supplements, including antioxidants (vitamins C and E), calcium,long chain omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils), vitamin D, vitamins B-6 and B-12, and folic acid."The medical and scientific communities are rapidly accumulating powerful evidence about therole of nutritional supplements in both health promotion and disease prevention," said AnnetteDickinson, Ph.D., the author of the report and CRN vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs.
This growing critical mass of data underscores the need for health professionals to do more toencourage patients to get into a regular, defined routine of supplementation. While it is never too lateto start incorporating supplements into a healthy lifestyle, there is compelling evidence thatconsistent, long-term use provides the strongest benefits. For as little as a dime a day, the cost of abasic multivitamin, you can make a sound investment in good health," she said.Highlights from the report findings include:*If all women of childbearing age used multivitamins with folic acid, it should be possible toreduce the current incidence of neural tube birth defects like spina bifida by as much as 70%.*The routine use of multivitamins and mineral supplements by the elderly could improveimmune function and thus reduce infectious disease, potentially cutting in half the totalnumber of days they are sick.*Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D could reduce the rate of hip fracture amongolder people by at least 20%-meaning 40,000 to 50,000 fewer hip fractures each year in theUnited States-for an average annual savings of $1.5 to $2 billion.*The potential cost savings of a prevention-oriented approach to health and diet aretremendous. A 1997 analysis predicted that if the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, strokeand hip fracture were delayed five years, total U.S. health care cost savings could equal $89billion annually.*While the addition of a multivitamin would benefit most people, different additionalsupplements should be chosen based on the specific lifestage, gender or lifestyle of theindividual. For example, though calcium is generally important for all men and women, it isparticularly critical for children building bone mass and elderly people seeking to preserve it."Scientific evidence in support of the health benefits of nutritional supplements has growndramatically in recent years," said Jeffrey Blumberg,
Ph.D., a professor in the School of Nutrition
Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston. "We must now work to translate this knowledge to health care providers, policy makers and consumers so the simple actions people can take to promotetheir health and
prevent disease can be more fully realized. The impact of a rational use of dietarysupplements can also help reduce health care costs which escalate every year as our population growsolder."Dr. Dickinson noted that while all people should strive to eat a healthy and balanced diet-nomatter what their age or health circumstance-few in reality do. "While the overall improvement ofdietary habits has been the focus of much research on health promotion and disease prevention, themedical and scientific communities are increasingly recognizing that nutritional supplements have acritical role to play. Too many studies have shown that most diets-even fairly healthy ones-fallwell below the Recommended Dietary Allowance for many nutrients. Supplements are a provenbridge between what we should eat and what we actually eat," she said.Dr. Dickinson is an expert on the benefits of vitamins and minerals who has worked in the fieldsince 1973. In 1995, President Clinton appointed Dr. Dickinson to the Commission on DietarySupplement Labels, and in 2002 she was named to the Food Advisory Committee of the Food andDrug Administration (FDA). She is the author of numerous papers and is frequently asked to speakon the topic of dietary supplements to policy-making, scientific and other audiences.The full report and additional press materials, including graphics and information on how topurchase a copy of The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements, are available on the CRN website
http://www.crnusa.org/benefits.html
(CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade associationrepresenting ingredient suppliers and manufacturers in the dietary supplement industry. CRN members adhere to a strongcode of ethics, comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under goodmanufacturing practices. The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and theFederal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50
states.
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