http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/10/21/positive_effects_of_vitam
ins.htm
October 21, 2003
Positive Effects of Vitamins
Health through Nutrition
How interesting that the pro-supply lobby "cherry picks" to come up with the
following. I am glad to see that they are going to JAMA instead of Townsend
Letters but I fear that objectivity will be selective and situational.
Sincerely,
Charles
New Study Proves Durbin-Clinton Bill Not Only Useless, But Could Cost Taxpayers
$1.6 Billion More in Medicare, Says Project: FANS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The director of Project: FANS, one of
America's largest grassroots pro-nutritional supplements groups, applauds a new
study, "A Study on the Cost Effects of Multivitamins for Older Adults," that
reports on the positive effects of supplement use for seniors, and urges
Congress to protect Americans' access to all nutritional supplements. "This
study should put to rest any debate about the importance and effectiveness that
nutritional supplements have on the health of all Americans, especially our
senior citizens," stated Beth Clay, director of Project: FANS. "Instead of
being influenced by media-hyped crises and the lobbying efforts of the
anti-supplement crowd, the U.S. Congress should base their legislative
decisions on the science these studies have provided."
The soon-to-be-released study, conducted by the Lewin Group, echoes the results
of a 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study that focused
on the benefits of nutritional supplement and vitamin use. Both studies
encourage all adults to take multivitamins to minimize their risk of chronic
disease, and state that use of supplements by seniors will save more than $1.6
billion dollars in healthcare and taxpayer dollars over the next five years.
Specifically, the Lewin study states, "the five-year estimate of potential
savings (or cost offsets) resulting from improved immune functioning and a
reduction in the relative risk of coronary artery disease through providing
older adults with a daily multivitamin is approximately $1.6 billion...The
evidence strongly indicates that daily use of multivitamins by the elderly is
nearly risk-free and is potentially associated with significant health
improvements...."
"This is the final nail in the coffin for the Durbin-Clinton bill ( S.722 )
that would at best restrict access to the very supplements that this study says
will improve the health of all Americans, especially our seniors," said Clay.
"This study proves that S.722 is wrong for our health, wrong for our seniors
and wrong for the American taxpayers' wallets.
But real good for the pharma/medical Mafia... Isn't that the whole reason for
Bill S.722 in the first place? CG
"Seventy percent of Americans regularly use supplements and they do not want
their access to them restricted, as most of this proposed new legislation would
do," concluded Clay. Project: FANS opposes any new legislation that would
overturn the existing regulatory framework. Bills like S.722 seek to replace
the current law of the land-DSHEA, passed in 1994-and if passed, would have
permanent detrimental effects on consumer rights and access to better health.
Comments
If people manage their own health intelligently by using needed supplements,
insurance rates and claims should go down. This would include federally funded
claims. How could anyone complain about people feeling better by using simple
harmless substances natural to the body? Just drug oriented doctors, hospital
systems, and drug producing companies!!