Despite the widespread use of multivitamins among US adults, primarily for disease prevention and health maintenance, a recent comprehensive cohort study published in JAMA Network Open has found no evidence to suggest that daily multivitamin (MV) consumption offers a mortality benefit.
This study, which involved 390,124 generally healthy adults across three significant US cohorts with up to 27 years of follow-up, aimed to explore the long-held belief that multivitamins could contribute to increased longevity [1].
The study participants were initially without chronic conditions like cancer, making the findings relevant to a generally healthy population.
Throughout the study, several factors, such as diet, lifestyle habits and other health behaviors, were meticulously recorded and adjusted in the analysis to minimize confounding variables; common challenges in nutritional epidemiology.
Key findings from the study indicate that daily MV users did not experience lower mortality rates than non-users.
Specifically, the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in users versus non-users were close to one (1.04), suggesting no significant protective or harmful effects associated with MV use over the observed period. These results were consistent even when considering substantial causes of death like cardiovascular disease and cancer.
It’s crucial to note that the study also addressed potential biases such as the “healthy user effect,” where individuals who take supplements might also engage in other health-promoting behaviors that could influence outcomes.
The results remained unchanged after adjusting for such factors, reinforcing the conclusion that multivitamins do not contribute to an extended lifespan.
This study aligns with previous findings from the US Preventive Services Task Force and other research, which have also reported insufficient evidence to recommend multivitamin supplements for mortality reduction or the prevention of chronic diseases [2]. This consistency in research findings should reassure the audience about the validity of the study’s conclusions.
Despite this, multivitamins remain popular, with significant portions of the population continuing their use under the assumption of health benefits.
The study’s extensive scale and robust methodology provide a compelling argument that, for generally healthy adults, multivitamins do not offer a mortality benefit. While multivitamins may not be harmful, their effectiveness for longevity and disease prevention appears limited based on current evidence.
This highlights the need for consumers to consider the existing scientific evidence when making decisions about supplement use, especially when the benefits are unclear. This approach empowers individuals to make informed choices about their health.
[1] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820369
[2] https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/vitamin-supplementation-to-prevent-cvd-and-cancer-preventive-medication
