TheDigger Intelligence Unit
A new study from Harvard Medical School suggests that taking daily multivitamins might slightly slow biological ageing.
However, experts warn not to exaggerate the benefits or view supplements as an easy way to live longer.
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital followed 958 people, averaging 70 years old, for two years in a randomised clinical trial.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, compared taking multivitamins and minerals with five DNA-based ageing markers.
The results showed that people taking multivitamins had a 2.6-month slower yearly rate of biological ageing and a 1.4-month slower rate in markers linked to risk of death, compared to those taking a placebo.
The effect was strongest in people whose biological age was already higher than their actual age, with a 2.8-month greater slowing. However, the supplements did not affect three other markers, and cocoa extract did not show any benefit.
While these results add more detail to the discussion about supplements, experts say that multivitamins are not proven to help people live longer. Earlier large studies, including a 20-year follow-up of over 390,000 adults by the U.S. National Cancer Institute, found no proof that multivitamins lower the risk of dying from heart disease or cancer.
Dr Neil Barnard from George Washington University said that some nutrients, like beta-carotene, vitamins C and D, and zinc, can help with certain health problems, such as age-related macular degeneration.
However, there is still no evidence that multivitamins help people live longer.
Health experts say that multivitamins can help fill nutrient gaps for certain groups, such as older adults who absorb nutrients less well, pregnant women who need more folate and iron, and people with diets that limit certain foods, such as vegans who often lack vitamin B12.
But for most people, eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dairy is still the best way to get the nutrients you need.
It also warns against overreliance on supplements, as high doses of certain vitamins can be harmful if taken long-term. They encourage consulting a doctor or dietitian before starting multivitamins to ensure they are necessary and safe.
The Harvard study stresses that while multivitamins might slightly slow biological ageing for some people, lifestyle choices like eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are much more important for healthy ageing and living longer.
