Health Economics of Preventive Nutrition

Abstract

Key Points The economic burden of obesity, nutritionally related adverse pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, cancer, age-related blindness, and osteoporosis is a global problem and costs will continue to rise as the developed nations' population age and the developing nations continue to have high birth rates. Major discoveries have been made in preventive nutrition within the past 20 years including utility of folic acid in neural tube birth-defect prevention, high-dose antioxidants plus high doses of zinc for reduction of age-related macular degeneration progression, and calcium and vitamin D in hip fracture prevention. Implementation of preventive nutrition strategies has been shown to be cost-effective in developing nations and in more economically advantaged populations. Daily use of Certain nutritional supplements, such as multi vitamins, reduce the risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes, is associated with reduced risk of age-related visual and neurological deterioration, and several types of cancers. Improvements in diets, cessation of lifestyle habits that increase the risk of chronic disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes, daily exercise, and the consumption of dietary supplements where indicated will decrease health-care costs.