Multivitamin supplements have become a regular part of many Americans’ diets, with one in three U.S. adults taking them regularly, but does taking them daily improve overall health and longevity?
A study published Wednesday by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that multivitamins have no effect on extending lifespan, with researchers reporting that “the use of multivitamins to extend lifespan is not supported.”
The study analyzed data from nearly 400,000 adults over a 20-year period. Participants were, on average, 61.5 years old, had no history of chronic disease, and were generally in good health, according to the study published in JAMA Network Open.
The study found no evidence that taking a daily multivitamin reduces the risk of death from diseases such as heart disease or cancer.
The vitamins are sold at Walgreens pharmacies in Miami.
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The researchers found that healthy people who took a daily multivitamin did not live longer and were slightly more likely (4%) to die during the study period than non-takers.
The researchers reported that approximately 165,000 of the original 390,000 participants died during the study’s follow-up period.
However, the study did not analyze data from people who already had vitamin deficiencies.
“What this study shows is that multivitamins, in general, don’t help you live longer,” Jade A. Coburn, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and general preventive medicine physician, told ABC News.
“While most multivitamins aren’t expensive, it’s still an expense that many people can save on,” Coburn said.
Coburn explained that, if possible, it’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from your diet, focusing on increasing your vegetable intake and limiting your red meat intake, rather than relying solely on supplements.
“We could all benefit from including more vegetables, whole grains and legumes in our diets, eating less red meat, spending less time sitting and reducing alcohol consumption,” Coburn suggested.
Taking a multivitamin supplement won’t extend your life, but it’s important to ask your doctor whether a multivitamin or a specific vitamin supplement might work for you based on your health history and diet, Coburn said.
“If your doctor prescribes vitamins, it’s important to take them,” Coburn said, adding, “I would encourage everyone to get regular health checkups, talk to their doctor about their dietary history, and disclose any supplements they’re taking.”
