Not only does yogurt consumption hold promise for individual health, it may also carry positive impacts for the cost of healthcare,” said Dr. David McCarron, MD, Department of Nutrition, University of California-Davis. A 2004 analysis from our program calculated the potential healthcare savings in the U.S for common medical conditions known to be responsive to increased dairy product consumption. Using conservative estimates, we projected first year savings of approximately $26 billion and 5-year cumulative savings in excess of $200 billion.
This presentation updates that 2004 analysis of healthcare savings and defines the central role of yogurt and related products consumption in achieving an optimal dietary pattern known to impact common chronic diseases. Using a standard PubMed search process recent reports that assessed dairy and yogurt consumption as an essential component of diet quality were identified. Estimated one-year and five-year healthcare savings were calculated employing conservative assumptions as to the percentage of individuals actually achieving adequate yogurt consumption as an essential component of a high quality diet.
Based on current estimates of U.S. healthcare costs and conservative estimates of the impact on specific conditions, this current analysis projects that in the U.S., $83 billion would be saved in the first year and up to $910 billion over five years. Worldwide first year healthcare savings are estimated at $95 billion. The potential healthcare savings from consuming an optimal diet that is adequate in yogurt and dairy are profound for the U.S. as well as worldwide and have increased substantially in the past decade.
