Media Advisory
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
The findings are the result of an NIH analysis of dietary data from 390,124 U.S. adults over more than 20 years.
what
A large-scale analysis of data from nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults followed for more than 20 years found no association between regular multivitamin intake and a reduced risk of death. The study, led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, was published June 26, 2024. JAMA Network Open.
Many U.S. adults take multivitamins in hopes of improving their health. However, the benefits and harms of taking multivitamins regularly remain unclear. Previous studies of multivitamin use and mortality have had mixed results and were limited by short follow-up periods.
To explore more fully the relationship between long-term, regular multivitamin intake and total mortality and mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer, researchers analyzed data from three large, geographically distributed prospective studies that included a total of 390,124 U.S. adults followed for more than 20 years. Participants in this analysis were generally healthy and had no history of cancer or other chronic diseases.
The very large study population, long-term follow-up, and extensive information on demographic and lifestyle factors allowed the researchers to mitigate the effects of biases that may have influenced other study findings. For example, people who use multivitamins may generally have a healthier lifestyle, and patients with more severe illnesses may be more likely to increase their multivitamin use.
The 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, and there was no difference in mortality from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease, after adjusting for factors such as race/ethnicity, education, and diet quality.
The researchers noted that it will be important to evaluate multivitamin use and mortality risk in different types of populations, including those with documented nutritional deficiencies, and the potential effects of regular multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with aging.
Who
Ericka Loftfield, PhD, MPH, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute
study
“Multivitamin Use and Risk of Mortality in Three Prospective Cohorts in the United States” will be published on June 26, 2024. JAMA Network Open.
About the National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and NIH’s efforts to significantly reduce the incidence of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients. NCI supports a wide range of external cancer research and training through grants and contracts. NCI’s internal research program, including research at the NIH Clinical Center, the world’s largest research hospital, conducts innovative, interdisciplinary basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research into the causes, prevention, risk prediction, early detection, and means of treatment of cancer. Learn more about internal research being conducted in NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. For more information about cancer, visit the NCI website at cancer.gov or call the NCI Contact Center at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, consists of 27 Institutes and Centers and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
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