About 33% of adults in the U.S. take a daily multivitamin to support their overall well-being, assuming that it may help prevent disease and contribute to a longer, healthier life. According to the most recent research, if your hope is that popping vitamins can help you live longer, you can save your money and your effort.
Recent research has brought new insights into the discussion about the effectiveness of multivitamins in extending lifespan. A comprehensive study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, involving nearly 400,000 U.S. adults over two decades, found no significant correlation between regular multivitamin use and a decrease in mortality rates.
The new NIH study had a very specific aim: to assess the correlation between multivitamin use and death related to chronic diseases, specifically cardiovascular disease and cancer. The researchers conducted an analysis using data from three large cohort studies in the US: National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study (NIH-AARP)Trusted Source, PLCO Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO)Trusted Source, and Agricultural Health Study (AHS).
This extensive analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that while many individuals consume multivitamins with the intention of boosting their health and longevity, such supplements do not necessarily contribute to a longer life. The study’s findings are particularly credible given the large sample size and the long duration of the follow-up period, which enhances the reliability of the data.
However, it’s important to note that while the study focused on generally healthy adults who get a nutritional diet, the results may differ for populations with specific nutritional deficiencies.
“For example, those with gastrointestinal conditions such as celiac disease [and] irritable bowel disease may benefit from daily multivitamin supplementation,” Kiran Campbell, a registered dietitian who specializes in heart health, noted.
“Even if taking a daily multivitamin may not prolong life, they may still have benefits,” such as preventing nutrient deficiencies, especially in vulnerable populations, she affirmed.
What’s more, “A multivitamin can benefit the aging adult population, over 50 years of age,” helping to prevent nutrient deficiencies related to changes associated with the normal aging process, Campbell said. “In addition, multivitamin use may help protect against age-related cognitive decline and memory loss.”
However, while you should not necessarily discontinue taking multivitamins given the other benefits they can confer, Campbell suggests that those seeking to maximize their health look to “dietary patterns like the Mediterranean diet or the Blue Zone diet, which are primarily whole-foods plant-based diets. These dietary patterns focus on whole foods along with cultural, behavioral, and social factors as the answer to lifelong health” instead of relying on dietary supplements.
