Top Line
In the latest investigation into a long-debated topic about the benefits of multivitamins, a new study has found that taking a daily multivitamin doesn’t lower the risk of death, leading researchers to recommend that Americans get their nutrients from food rather than supplements.
A handful of vitamins.
Key Facts
In a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open, researchers used health records from more than 390,000 participants with an average age of 61.5 years who were generally healthy, had no history of chronic disease, and were followed for more than 20 years.
Because people with healthy lifestyles or who are sick may be more likely to take multivitamins, the researchers wanted to mitigate these effects and ensure they did not affect the study’s results.
The group of participants who took a daily multivitamin had a lower BMI, better sleep quality, and were slightly more likely to have a college education than participants who did not take a daily multivitamin.
However, the study found that while people who took a daily multivitamin had a 4% higher risk of death from any cause, there was no difference in the risk of death from cancer, heart disease, or cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and aneurysm.
Because the study participants consisted of generally healthy adults, the researchers noted that further research is needed to include other groups, such as those with nutritional deficiencies, as well as to evaluate the potential impact of regular multivitamin intake on other health conditions related to ageing.
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Important Quotes
“Refocusing nutritional interventions on foods rather than supplements may confer mortality-reduction benefits not achieved with multivitamins,” researchers from the National Cancer Institute wrote in a commentary accompanying the study in JAMA. “Vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains are dietary staples in regions where longevity is prominent.”
Is there evidence that multivitamins work?
Although the efficacy of multivitamins has long been debated, more than 31% of Americans over the age of 19 take them. According to a previous study in JAMA, men who take a daily multivitamin may have an 8% lower risk of cancer and a lower risk of developing cataracts. Several studies have found that multivitamins improve memory in older adults. Multivitamins may also be beneficial for people with mood disorders. A study published in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental found that older male participants who took a multivitamin for eight weeks experienced significantly less depression and anxiety compared to the placebo group.
What vitamins actually work?
Taking vitamins alone may have some benefit. Doctors recommend supplements for people with deficiencies in vitamins like vitamin D, especially those with lactose intolerance, milk allergies, fat malabsorption disorders, and those with darker skin and more melanin, according to the Yale School of Medicine. Vitamins can also be helpful during pregnancy. Pregnant women can take prenatal vitamins that contain vitamin D and calcium, which can help support the development of their baby’s teeth and bones, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Are multivitamins regulated by the FDA?
Multivitamins, herbs, minerals, and other dietary supplements are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration but are not approved by the FDA, although most regulation occurs after the products are on store shelves, and many companies manufacture and sell multivitamins without notifying the FDA.
Big numbers
$177.5 billion. That’s how much the global dietary supplements industry is worth in 2023, according to market research firm Grand View Research. This figure is expected to grow by 9% between 2024 and 2030.
Main Background
In 2022, the United States Preventive Services Task Force concluded that taking vitamin and mineral supplements offers “little to no benefit” and recommended against the use of beta-carotene and vitamin E supplements to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer. A 2021 study conducted by the USPSTF found that multivitamin use did not reduce participants’ risk of cancer or heart disease. Researchers also found that taking iron supplements, which are added to many multivitamins, can lead to iron overload, which can increase the risk of diabetes, dementia, and heart disease.
