Multivitamins are commonly used in the belief that they prevent disease and maintain health. In fact, approximately 45% of Australians take vitamins, minerals or supplements and it’s estimated to be a $5 billion dollar industry.
But in a new study, their use didn’t make a difference to how long people lived.
Researchers used data from three cohort studies in the United States. Collectively, the studies included almost 400,000 adults with no prior cancer or chronic diseases, assessed between 1993 and 2001, and followed for almost three decades. Participants’ multivitamin use was self-reported at baseline and during follow-ups. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index and the researchers adjusted for potential confounders like lifestyle and health status.
Among the 390,124 participants, the median age was 61.5 years, and 55.4 per cent were male. During the follow-up period, 164,762 participants died. The study found no significant association between daily multivitamin use and all-cause mortality. The results were consistent across major causes of death, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Daily multivitamin users were more likely to be female, college-educated, and less likely to smoke compared to non-users.
The findings suggest that daily multivitamin use does not give a mortality benefit for healthy adults. Despite the widespread belief in their benefits, this study indicates that taking multivitamins may not extend lifespan or reduce the risk of death from major diseases.
Further information
Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts: JAMA Network
