A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine has examined whether multivitamins influence the body’s aging.
According to Business Insider, researchers analyzed biological markers in older participants.
These markers are used to measure the body’s biological age. It is a method in which researchers examine changes in cells and DNA to assess how quickly the body is aging.
The study showed that people who took a daily multivitamin aged slightly more slowly on average than those who did not.
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Uncertainty for many years
Multivitamins are among the most widely used dietary supplements in the world, especially among older adults.
Even so, researchers have for many years been uncertain whether they actually provide measurable health benefits.
According to Business Insider, previous research has not been able to demonstrate clear improvements in either health or lifespan.
The study’s lead author, epidemiologist Howard Sesso from Harvard Medical School, explains that the results do not mean that everyone should start taking multivitamins.
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He believes the study instead contributes to a better understanding of dietary supplements.
A very small difference
The study’s results showed a difference in biological aging of around four months. The effect is therefore considered very limited.
However, the researchers point out that older people may benefit from supplements if they do not receive enough nutrients through their diet.
A previous study from 2023 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition also found small improvements in memory tests among people who took multivitamins.
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The main conclusion is therefore that a daily multivitamin in the study was associated with a small slowdown in biological aging among older adults.
Sources: Business Insider, Nature Medicine, and American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.