Multivitamins and Longevity

Today, I want to discuss multivitamins and longevity.

Do you take a multivitamin?

I do, but I need to rethink the practice.

Multivitamins have long been touted as a way to boost health and potentially extend lifespan.

However, a recent large-scale study published in JAMA Network Open has cast doubt on this claim, finding no significant link between multivitamin use and longevity.

This finding aligns with the suspicions of many experts who have long questioned the effectiveness of multivitamins in promoting healthy aging.

Multivitamin Use Is Common

Multivitamin use is prevalent among US adults, particularly older individuals, women, non-Hispanic whites, and those with a college education.

One in three Americans take a multivitamin.

Why Do Folks Take Multivitamins?

Despite the widespread belief that supplements improve or maintain health, only about one-quarter of supplements are taken based on healthcare provider recommendations.

Often, individuals perceive an increased intake of certain nutrients may lower the risk of diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

However, observational studies on the health benefits of individual supplements and multivitamins/multimineral (MVMM) have produced inconsistent results.

Furthermore, while randomized clinical trials often fail to demonstrate benefits from these supplements, it’s worth noting that many of these trials may not have been long enough to detect any positive effects.

A New Cohort Study

A cohort study is observational. Researchers prospectively follow a group (cohort) of individuals over time to assess the development of certain outcomes, such as diseases.

The study authors collected data from nearly 12,000 adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Why Do People Take Multivitamins?

Here’s what the researchers discovered:

• People take supplements primarily to improve (45%) or maintain (33%) their overall health.
• Women often cite bone health as a reason for calcium supplement use (36%)
• Men are more inclined to use supplements for heart health or cholesterol reduction (18%).
• Older adults (60+) are more likely than younger ones to use supplements for specific health concerns, such as heart, bone, joint, and eye health.

However, only a small fraction of supplement users (23%) of respondents indicated that their healthcare provider recommended a multivitamin.

The Takeaway Messages

Here is the main research finding:

Multivitamin use showed no link to a reduced risk of death from any cause.

This lack of association held even when considering major causes of death and how the effect of multivitamins might change over time.

Despite widespread multivitamin use in the United States, the supplement does not improve survival.

I probably should simply eat more fruits, vegetables, fermented foods, and whole grains. I remain a work in progress.

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