A large analysis of data from nearly 400,000 healthy adults in the U.S. followed for over 20 years found no association between regular multivitamin use and lower risk of death. The study, led by researchers from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, was published on June 26, 2024, in JAMA Network Open.
Many adults in the United States take multivitamins in the hope of improving their health. However, the benefits and risks of regular multivitamin use remain unclear. Previous studies on multivitamin use and mortality have shown mixed results and were limited by short follow-up periods.
To explore the relationship between long-term regular multivitamin use and overall mortality as well as death from cardiovascular diseases and cancer, researchers analyzed data from three large geographically diverse prospective studies, involving a total of 390,124 U.S. adults who were followed for over 20 years. The participants included in this analysis were generally healthy, with no history of cancer or other chronic diseases.
As the study population was so large and included prolonged follow-up and extensive information on demographics and lifestyle factors, the researchers were able to mitigate the effects of potential biases that may have influenced the results of other studies. For example, people who use multivitamins may have healthier lifestyles overall, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase their multivitamin use.
The analysis showed that people who took multivitamins daily did not have a lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who did not take multivitamins. There were also no differences in mortality from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular diseases. The results were adjusted for factors such as race and ethnicity, education, and diet quality.
The researchers noted that it is important to assess multivitamin use and death risk in different types of populations, such as those with documented nutritional deficiencies, as well as the potential impact of regular multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with aging.
Source: National Institute of Health