One study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin may slow biological aging.
Experts calculated that daily vitamin supplementation over two years could shorten biological aging by an average of about four months.
Biological aging refers to the age of the body in terms of health and function, rather than a person’s lifespan.
Previous research on multivitamin use and health has produced mixed results, with one large 2024 study showing no benefit in preventing premature death and other studies suggesting they may have some effect.
In new trials published in the journal Nature Medicine, experts concluded that multivitamins may lead to “healthier, higher-quality” aging.
“There is a lot of interest today in finding ways to not only live longer, but live better,” said lead author Dr. Howard Sesso, associate director of the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham Division of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“It’s exciting to see the benefits of multivitamins associated with biological markers of aging.
“This study opens the door to learning more about convenient, safe interventions that contribute to healthier, higher-quality aging.”
However, other experts are skeptical of the findings.
The research studies biological aging based on tiny changes in DNA.
Specific sites in DNA that regulate gene expression (called DNA methylation) were examined as markers of aging.
Over time, methylation patterns change, forming the basis of what scientists call the “epigenetic clock.”
DNA methylation was examined on blood samples from 958 healthy individuals with an average chronological age of 70 years.
The experts looked for changes in five epigenetic clocks at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the first and second years.
They found that all five epigenetic clocks were slowed in those who took a multivitamin compared to those who took the dummy drug.
These changes amount to about four months less biological aging over two years.
Further research is currently underway to see if the effects are long-lasting.
“A lot of people take multivitamins but don’t necessarily know what the benefits of taking it are, so the more we know about its potential health benefits, the better,” Dr. Sesso said.
The research was funded by Mars Edge, which included a donation of multivitamins to the research.
Dr Laura Sinclair, lecturer in healthcare and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, said epigenetic clocks “are powerful tools for measuring biological aging, but they are only a small piece of the aging puzzle”.
She said factors such as DNA damage, protein changes and cellular communication problems also play a role in aging.
“This study does not recommend going out and buying supplements,” she said.
“If a person eats a nutritionally balanced diet, many dietary supplements may be redundant for their individual needs.
“However, the majority of adults in the UK do not actually eat a nutritionally balanced diet and therefore may benefit from a multivitamin and mineral supplement.
“In fact, the UK government recommends that UK adults should consider taking vitamin D supplements during autumn and winter.
“Overall, this work provides evidence for a potential role of multivitamin supplementation in biological aging, although the observed effects were limited.
“In the broader context of diet and lifestyle, these results suggest that its effects may be complementary to broader strategies to promote health and healthy ageing, rather than being a decisive stand-alone intervention.”
Professor Luigi Fontana, Director of Healthy Longevity Research at the University of Sydney, said: “This was a well-conducted trial, but the results need to be interpreted with caution.
“The study reports that taking a daily multivitamin slightly slowed two of the five DNA-based ‘epigenetic clocks’ used as markers of biological aging in older adults.
“However, the magnitude of the effects was very small and the effects were not consistent across all aging metrics tested…
“Overall, these findings are scientifically interesting, but they do not provide compelling evidence that taking a daily multivitamin is effective in slowing aging in humans.”
