WASHINGTON, D.C., June 24, 2002 — Is constant illness a sad fact of old age? While many might say yes, accumulating scientific research shows that the simple addition of nutritional supplements into a daily routine can provide significant health benefits for the elderly–such as potentially cutting in half the total number of days they are sick. A comprehensive new report released by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) found that consistent use of multivitamins with minerals and such single-nutrient supplements as calcium and antioxidants (vitamins C and E) demonstrated substantial positive impact on the immune systems of elderly people and played a key role in protecting eye and brain function and maintaining bone mass.

The 100-plus page report–titled The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements–reviewed more than a decade’s-worth of the most scientifically-significant studies measuring the health benefits of multivitamins 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 quantifiable impact of supplementation for the elderly was a consistent theme throughout the report.

"In reviewing the available evidence, I was impressed by the powerful benefit that the simple, daily intake of a multivitamin can have on overall immune function in the elderly," said Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., the author of the report and CRN vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs. "Research has found that consistent use of multivitamins and other supplements can significantly boost resistance to infectious diseases. This is a valuable insight which can translate into tremendous improvement in quality of life for older people."

Dr. Dickinson noted that common perceptions regarding the poor health status of the elderly can mask simple solutions for promoting and maintaining good health. "The elderly are certainly more vulnerable as a population to infectious diseases and degenerative conditions. Yet studies show we should not accept illness as the status quo for the elderly. Science continues to demonstrate steps that older people and their caregivers can take to help prevent illness and promote health. In the case of dietary supplements, these steps are simple and relatively inexpensive," she said.

Highlights from the report findings include:

• Research has found that while many Americans’ diets are deficient in the intake of critical nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and vitamin E, these deficiencies are far more common and pronounced among the elderly. In some studies, as many as 80% of subjects had inadequate intakes of four or more key nutrients.
• Elderly people residing in nursing homes are typically at even greater risk of unrecognized inadequacies of vitamins and minerals. While other nutritional problems commonly observed in the nursing home environment may be difficult to remedy, researchers have recognized the value of supplements in avoiding major "nutrition gaps."
• Maintaining bone density is an area of particular importance for elderly women and men alike. One top researcher in the field estimates that proper supplementation with calcium and vitamin D in the elderly could reduce the rate of hip fracture by at least 20%–meaning 40,000 to 50,000 fewer hip fractures each year in the United States–for an average annual savings of $1.5 to $2 billion.
• There is growing scientific evidence of the positive impact of antioxidants (vitamins C and E) on both eye and brain function. Studies have linked antioxidants with a reduced risk of developing cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 65 in the United States and other Western countries. Other research has found that use of vitamin C and E supplements had a significant protective effect in reducing the risk of dementia, as well as in improving overall cognitive function.

"Data regarding the real benefits of nutritional supplements for the elderly is both substantial and growing, particularly in the area of immune function," said Ranjit Chandra, M.D., university research professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. "Responsible health care professionals must take a more active role in stressing the importance of a consistent supplement regime for elderly patients, as part of an ongoing approach to disease prevention."

Dr. Dickinson is an expert on the benefits of vitamins and minerals who has worked in the field since 1973. In 1995, President Clinton appointed Dr. Dickinson to the Commission on Dietary Supplement Labels, and in 2002 she was named to the Food Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She is the author of numerous papers and is frequently asked to speak on 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 to purchase a copy of The Benefits of Nutritional Supplements, are available on the CRN website at www.crnusa.org/benefits.htm

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing ingredient suppliers and manufacturers in the dietary supplement industry. CRN members adhere to a strong code of ethics, comply with dosage limits and manufacture dietary supplements to high quality standards under good manufacturing practices. The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states.