CRNF releases report touting the important heart-healthy benefits of phytosterols

WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition Foundation on Thursday released a report touting the important heart-healthy benefits of phytosterols — compounds found in plants that can lower cholesterol. The report also indicated that taking phytosterol dietary supplements at preventive intake levels may have a beneficial impact on healthcare costs by reducing the potential for a coronary heart disease-related medical event.

 

The report, “Smart Prevention — Health Care Cost Savings Resulting from the Targeted Use of Dietary Supplements,” conducted by Frost & Sullivan through a grant from the CRNF, found that if the targeted population — U.S. adults over the age of 55 years with CHD — takes phytosterol dietary supplements at the preventive intake levels identified in the report, it can lead to individual and societal healthcare savings by reducing risk of CHD-related medical events by more than 11%.

 

“According to the economic report, for those currently suffering from CHD, it’s financially prudent to include phytosterols to help prevent medical events associated with the disease," stated Steve Mister, CRNF president. "Medical events are expensive; this report tells us it’s worth considering the 15 cents per day it costs to take phytosterols to help prevent these kinds of events in the first place.” 

 

According to the report, if U.S. adults over the age of 55 years with CHD take phytosterol dietary supplements, nearly 2.3 million CHD-related medical events could be avoided between 2013 and 2020, totaling $34 billion in avoided expenditures over the same time period. Less than 1% of adults over the age of 55 years take phytosterol dietary supplements, meaning almost 100% of this group still has yet to benefit. The number of adults ages 55 years and older with CHD is expected to rise 13% between 2013 and 2020.

 

According to Duffy MacKay, SVP scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition: “Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Daily consumption of phytosterols can prevent cholesterol build-up in the body by inhibiting its absorption in the intestine.”