Multivitamins Ineffective in Extending Lifespan: NIH Research

A recent US National Institute of Health (NIH) findings reveal that multivitamins do not extend life expectancy but might benefit older people.

An extensive study spanning almost three decades examined over 390,000 individuals, concluding that multivitamin users did not live longer, as reported by Science Alert. Intriguingly, early follow-up years indicated a 4% higher mortality risk for those consuming multivitamins.

Study: Multivitamins Are Not Necessary to Maintain Health

Despite Americans' widespread use of multivitamins to preserve or boost their health, NIH epidemiologist Erikka Loftfield emphasized that the research does not endorse their life-prolonging capabilities.

Lotfield noted that several US adults "report using multivitamins to maintain or improve health," per the report. However, the study underscored that nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation significantly enhance health outcomes more than multivitamin consumption.

Participants in the study were initially healthy, without cancer or chronic conditions. Multivitamin users tended to have healthier diets and lower BMIs. However, after adjusting for these factors, the study still found no lifespan benefits from multivitamin use.

Health experts recommend multivitamins for pregnant women and people deficient in iron and vitamin B. Recent research also suggests seniors may gain cognitive benefits from multivitamins, but they should be cautious, as taking vitamins in large amounts or with other medications or supplements might cause negative effects.

Multivitamins are not regulated like prescription medications, but marketing promises may be false. Consuming vitamins in a balanced diet is a safer option as healthy nutrition can extend life by ten years, according to 2023 research. The authors noted that healthy eating extends life.

Notably, eating a balanced diet and getting adequate nutrients may be challenging for people with busy schedules, and supplements and vitamins may help address this. In a Vogue article, Nutritionist Suman Agarwal recommends multivitamins for undernourished persons of any age, but she advises consulting a doctor first before taking them daily.

Possible Side Effects of Multivitamins, Food Supplements

According to the NIH, Americans started using multivitamins in the 1940s. Currently, one-third of adults and around 25% of children and teens in the US use such supplements. In 2019, they accounted for 14% of supplement sales and 38% of vitamin and mineral sales. The following year, the US market for dietary supplements brought in $55.7 billion.

According to health experts from the European Food Information Council, while typically safe, multivitamins might have side effects. Experts noted that vitamin and mineral sensitivity vary and may cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, skin rashes, itching, and medicine interactions.

Moreover, supplements can lead to exceeding recommended vitamin and mineral intakes, a rarity with diet alone. Long-term use may result in significant health issues. Consequently, experts recommend reading multivitamin labels and adhering to the daily dosage to avoid overdosing.