The myth has been busted.
A recent study involving nearly 400,000 individuals has found no evidence to support the idea that multivitamins prolong life. Despite the popularity of multivitamin use among American adults — with approximately one-third of them taking them regularly — prior studies suggesting minimal health benefits seem to hold true.
Led by Erikka Loftfield from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from three long-term studies spanning an average of 27 years. These studies included over 390,000 healthy adults, averaging about 61 years old at the start, and monitored their multivitamin usage over time.
During the follow-up period, nearly 165,000 participants passed away, with causes including cancer, heart disease, and strokes. Despite these significant outcomes, the study found no correlation between regular multivitamin use and reduced mortality rates. In fact, those who took daily multivitamins showed a slight 4% increase in mortality risk compared to non-users.
The findings challenge the notion that multivitamins offer a protective effect against premature death, regardless of participants’ race, ethnicity, education level, or dietary habits. This study adds to a growing body of research suggesting that multivitamins may not provide benefits in preventing major chronic diseases or prolonging life.
While acknowledging the decline in multivitamin use observed from 1999 to 2011 in the U.S., the researchers note that it remains a popular choice among adults. They caution that while this study did not find a link between multivitamins and longevity, further research is needed to explore potential impacts on other aspects of health related to aging.
These findings underscore the evolving understanding of multivitamins’ role in health and highlight the importance of evidence-based approaches to nutritional supplementation.
Discussion about this post