About one-third of U.S. adults Take a multivitaminThe data shows that, but new research suggests that practicing it every day won’t extend your life.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed data from more than 20 years of 400,000 healthy U.S. adults and concluded that taking multivitamins does not reduce the risk of death.
“Our analysis found that people who took a daily multivitamin had no lower risk of death from any cause compared with people who did not take a multivitamin,” the researchers wrote in an NIH press release.
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There was no difference in cancer mortality. Heart disease or cerebrovascular disease.”
A study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open found that people who took a daily multivitamin actually had a 4% higher risk of death.
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The average age of participants was 61 and a half years, and 164,762 people died during the follow-up period.
Results were adjusted for race, ethnicity, education and other factors. Nutrition and.
The study follows a 2022 analysis by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to determine whether multivitamin use is beneficial for health. Mortality Improvement.
By including more participants and following them for a longer period of time, the researchers aimed to take into account potential biases that may have influenced their findings.
“For example, if you’re taking a multivitamin, Healthier lifestyle In general, sicker patients may be more likely to increase their multivitamin use,” the researchers wrote in an NIH press release.
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Peter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, was not involved in the study but commented on it.
“This study provides further evidence that taking a multivitamin for more than 20 years does not extend lifespan,” he told Fox News Digital.
“for Healthy adultsThere’s no reason to add a multivitamin unless your doctor specifically recommends it.”
Dr. Brett Osborne, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.
“Key aspects of this study include that it was observational, there was no control group, and participants used a variety of multivitamin formulations,” he said in an email to Fox News Digital.
(The researchers acknowledged these limitations in their discussion of their findings.)
“Observational studies such as this can suggest an association or correlation but cannot prove causation because of potential confounding variables that influence both multivitamin use and mortality,” Osborne said.
The researchers looked at demographics, lifestyle behaviors, Health“Residual confounding factors remain a concern,” Osborne said.
Doctors also noted that the lack of a control group makes it difficult to compare results.
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“Without a control group, it’s difficult to separate the effect of multivitamins from other health behaviors or baseline. Health That could have an impact on mortality rates,” Osborne said.
The doctors also pointed out that the study did not involve controlled testing of the specific mix or dosage of multivitamins that participants took.
“Most multivitamins contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals, but concentrations vary widely depending on the brand and formulation,” he said.
“Many over-the-counter multivitamins may not provide optimal levels of nutrients needed for health benefits, potentially negating any potential benefits on longevity.”
Osborn said that in his practice, he recommends patients take a multivitamin with several capsules each day.
Vitamin intake is influenced by genetics, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and Access to healthcareamong other factors.
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“Longevity is multifactorial, so isolating the effect of multivitamins alone is complex and difficult, if not impossible,” Osborne said.
“There are just too many variables that can cause confusion.”
Doctors say the study highlights the importance of “rigorous scientific research” into the health benefits of multivitamins.
“In my opinion, most Americans are malnourished and should be taking a multivitamin — not in terms of calories, of course, but in terms of vitamins and minerals.”
The researchers emphasized the importance of measuring the effect of multivitamins on mortality in more diverse populations with different medical conditions in the future. Eating habit.
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“It will be important to evaluate multivitamin use and mortality risk in different types of populations, including those with documented malnutrition, and the potential impact of regular multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with aging,” they wrote.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the study researchers, vitamin manufacturers PharmaVite (NatureMade), Nestlé Health Science (Garden of Life and Nature’s Bounty) and Life Extension for comment.
Original article source: Research shows that taking a daily multivitamin is unlikely to increase your life expectancy: “It makes no difference to your mortality rate.”
