Daily multivitamins may not help you live longer, study finds

Approximately one-third of US adults report taking multivitaminsthe data show—but a new study suggests that daily practice won’t extend lifespan.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed more than 20 years worth of data from 400,000 healthy American adults, concluding that taking multivitamins does not reduce the risk of mortality.

“The analysis showed that people who took multivitamins daily did not have a lower risk of dying from any cause than people who did not take multivitamins,” the researchers wrote in an NIH press release.

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“There were also no differences in cancer mortality, heart dissases or cerebrovascular diseases”.

Those who took daily multivitamins were found to have a 4% higher risk of mortality, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Network Open on Wednesday.

The median age of the participants was 61-½ years, and 164,762 deaths occurred during the follow-up period.

“People who use multivitamins may have a healthier lifestyle overall, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase their use of multivitamins.”

Results were adjusted for factors including race, ethnicity, education and nutrition.

The study followed a 2022 analysis by the US Preventive Services Task Force, which concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to determine whether multivitamin use improved mortality.

By including a larger number of participants and extending the follow-up over longer periods of time, the researchers aimed to account for potential biases that could have influenced the findings.

“For example, people who use multivitamins may have healthier lifestyles overall, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase multivitamin use,” they wrote in an NIH press release.

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Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, was not involved in the study but offered his comments.

“This study provides further evidence that taking multivitamins, even for 20 years or more, will not extend your life,” he told Fox News Digital.

“For healthy adultsthere’s no reason to add a multivitamin unless your doctor specifically recommends it.”

The doctor indicates the limitations

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, was also not involved in the study but weighed in on the findings.

“Key aspects of the study include its observational nature, lack of a control group, and variability in multivitamin formulations used by participants,” he said in an email to Fox News Digital.

(The researchers also acknowledged these limitations in their discussion of the study’s results.)

“Observational studies like this can suggest associations or correlations, but cannot prove causation because of the potential for confounding variables that affect both multivitamin use and mortality outcomes,” Osborn said.

While the researchers noted that they adjusted for factors such as demographics, lifestyle behaviors and health conditionsaid Osborn, “residual confusion remains a concern.”

The doctor also noted that the lack of a control group makes it difficult to compare the results.

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“Without a control group, it is challenging to separate the effects of multivitamins from those of other health behaviors or the baseline. health conditions that can affect mortality,” Osborn said.

The study also did not include controls for the specific formulation or dosage of multivitamins taken by the participants, the doctor noted.

“Most multivitamins contain a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals, but concentrations can vary widely across brands and formulations,” he said.

“Many commercially available multivitamins may not provide optimal levels of nutrients needed for health benefits, potentially blunting any potential effects on longevity.”

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In his practice, Osborn said, he recommends a multi-capsule daily multivitamin for his patients.

Vitamin use is only one aspect of longevity, the doctor emphasized, along with genetics, lifestyle, socio-economic status and access to health careamong other factors.

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“The multifactorial nature of longevity means that isolating the impact of multivitamins alone is complex and challenging, if not impossible,” Osborn said.

“There are just too many potentially confounding variables.”

The study highlights the importance of “rigorous scientific research” into the health benefits of multivitamins, according to the doctor.

“In my opinion, multivitamins should be taken, as most Americans are malnourished – certainly not in terms of calories, but in the context of vitamins and minerals.”

Looking ahead, the researchers stressed the importance of measuring the impact of multivitamins on mortality in more diverse populations with different medical conditions and dietary habits.

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“It is important to assess multivitamin use and risk of death among different types of populations, such as those with documented nutritional deficiencies, as well as the potential impact of regular multivitamin use on other aging-related health conditions.” ,” they write.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment, as well as vitamin makers PharmaVite (NatureMade), Nestlé Health Science (Garden of Life and Nature’s Bounty) and Life Extension.