Daily multivitamin may slow biological aging, study shows

A randomized trial of 958 adults (average age 70) found that taking a daily multivitamin for two years was associated with a statistically significant slowing of epigenetic measures of biological aging by about four months overall, with larger effects among participants who were biologically older than their chronological age; cocoa extract showed no effect.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham reported that a daily multivitamin was associated with a slowing of biological signals linked to aging in a trial published in Nature Medicine. The study used DNA-based epigenetic clocks to estimate biological age and examined changes in blood samples over two years. Researchers analyzed samples from 958 randomly selected healthy participants with an average chronological age of 70. Participants were assigned to combinations of daily multivitamin, cocoa extract, and placebo, and samples were collected at baseline, one year, and two years. Key findings: - The trial included 958 participants with an average chronological age of 70. - Participants were randomized to four groups: multivitamin plus cocoa extract, cocoa plus placebo, multivitamin plus placebo, or placebo only, and were followed for two years. - Researchers measured five epigenetic clocks in blood at baseline, year one, and year two to estimate biological aging. - Compared with the placebo-only group, the multivitamin group showed a statistically significant slowing of biological aging of about four months overall, with larger effects among participants who were biologically older than their chronological age at the start of the trial. - Cocoa extract did not produce a measurable effect on the epigenetic aging measures. - The authors reported that additional research is needed to determine the clinical relevance of the observed changes and to see if the slowing of biological aging persists after the trial ends. Summary: The trial reported a modest slowing in epigenetic measures of biological aging for participants taking a daily multivitamin, particularly among those whose biological age exceeded their chronological age. Cocoa extract showed no measurable effect, and researchers said further work is required to assess the clinical implications and whether the observed changes persist after the trial concludes.