Daily Multivitamin Use May Sluggish Biological Aging, Study Finds

For years, the debate surrounding multivitamins has raged: are they a simple path to healthier aging, or merely a product of a multi-billion dollar industry with little proven benefit? New research from Mass General Brigham investigators suggests a daily multivitamin may indeed slow down the biological aging process, particularly for those who begin the trial with accelerated biological age.

What the Research Shows

The analysis, published in Nature Medicine, evaluated the effects of a daily multivitamin on five measures of biological aging over two years. Researchers found a slowing equivalent to approximately four months of aging.

“There is a lot of interest today in identifying ways to not just live longer, but to live better,” said Howard Sesso, ScD, MPH, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine in the Mass General Brigham Department of Medicine. “It was exciting to see the benefits of a multivitamin linked with markers of biological aging. This study opens the door to learning more about accessible, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality aging.”

How Biological Age is Measured

Biological age, which differs from chronological age, is determined by how quickly our bodies age on a cellular level. Researchers used epigenetic clocks to estimate biological aging. These clocks analyze changes in DNA methylation – tiny changes in our DNA that regulate gene expression and naturally change as we age – to track mortality and the pace of aging.

Benefits Increased for Those Biologically Older

The benefits of multivitamin supplementation were more pronounced in participants who were biologically older than their actual age at the start of the trial. This suggests that multivitamins may be particularly helpful when there is a nutritional deficiency.

Cocoa Flavanols Showed No Effect

The study also tested a daily dose of 500 milligrams of cocoa flavanols, compounds from cocoa previously linked to health benefits. However, this analysis revealed no effect on the aging clocks examined.

Cognitive Function and Inflammation

Participants who took multivitamins also showed indications of improvements in inflammation levels and cognitive functions, according to the research.

What Experts Say

Independent scientists are calling the study an vital step in supplement research, but emphasize that further investigation is needed. Determining whether multivitamins lead to a longer, healthy lifespan remains an open question. Harvard Health Publishing notes that recent clinical trials have linked multivitamin use to better cognitive fitness and memory.

Multivitamins and Memory

A study published in PubMed found that daily multivitamin supplementation improved memory in older adults, with the effect equivalent to 3.1 years of age-related memory change.

Are Multivitamins Right for You?

According to Harvard Health, healthy individuals who eat a balanced diet may only need a multivitamin if they have a diagnosed vitamin or mineral deficiency. However, the recent research suggests potential benefits for cognitive function and biological aging, making them a consideration for middle-aged and older adults.

Key Takeaways

• Daily multivitamin use may slow biological aging by approximately four months.
• Benefits are more pronounced in individuals who are biologically older than their chronological age.
• Multivitamins may improve cognitive function and reduce inflammation.
• Cocoa flavanols did not demonstrate a significant effect on biological aging in this study.
• Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of multivitamin supplementation.