A daily multivitamin may help older adults maintain cognitive function and improve physical health, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. The study, involving over 16,000 participants aged 60 and older, suggests that regular multivitamin use could slow cognitive aging and enhance the ability to perform daily activities.
The research, led by Dr. Bayu Bekele from Augusta University, Georgia, observed participants over three years. Participants were randomly assigned to take a daily multivitamin containing essential B vitamins, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E, or a cocoa extract supplement, both, or neither. Provisional findings indicated that those taking the daily multivitamin experienced a slowing of cognitive aging by approximately 60%, equivalent to about 1.8 years over the study period.
Participants taking the multivitamin also showed improvements in physical functioning across six measured areas. Questionnaires assessing daily activities such as dressing, bathing, walking, climbing stairs, and household chores revealed that multivitamin users reported better performance. Symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, and swelling, which can indicate cardiovascular health, showed the greatest improvement.
"What makes this work unique is our focus on how people actually feel and function in their daily lives - rather than just the prevention of major diseases," Dr. Bekele stated. "A daily multivitamin could be a helpful, low-risk addition to a healthy lifestyle to support physical wellbeing as [older adults] age."
Previous research on the benefits of multivitamins has been met with skepticism, with many experts questioning the evidence. However, this study's focus on functional outcomes, rather than solely disease prevention, offers a different perspective. The researchers noted that the benefits may be particularly relevant for individuals experiencing fatigue or breathlessness.
In addition to the multivitamin group, a cocoa extract supplement showed significant benefits for patients with heart failure, attributed to its anti-inflammatory compounds known as polyphenols. However, the cocoa extract did not appear to affect overall cognitive scores.
While the researchers stopped short of recommending universal multivitamin use, they suggested that mounting evidence supports their role in healthy aging. The study team plans to conduct further clinical trials to investigate if these observed improvements translate into reduced disease incidence and increased lifespan.
This research emerges as other supplements are being scrutinized for potential health risks. For instance, glucosamine, commonly used for joint pain, has been tentatively linked by some experts to an increased risk of dementia progression.