Biological aging may slow with daily multivitamin, study finds

A trial of 958 adults (average age 70) found daily multivitamin use for two years modestly slowed several measures on epigenetic clocks, with about a four-month reduction on five biological aging measures; benefits were greater for participants who were biologically older than their chronological age at baseline.

Researchers at Mass General Brigham published a trial reporting that taking a daily multivitamin was associated with slower measures of biological aging. The study enrolled 958 healthy adults with an average chronological age of 70. Participants were assigned to a daily multivitamin or a placebo for two years and provided blood samples for DNA-based analysis. Investigators compared changes on five established epigenetic clocks between the groups. Key findings: - Two epigenetic clocks that are linked to mortality showed a statistically significant slowing in the multivitamin group compared with placebo. - Across five measures of biological aging, the vitamin group showed about a four-month reduction in aging on average. - The observed benefits were larger for participants who were biologically older than their chronological age at the start of the trial. - The article notes that other studies have found no impact of daily multivitamin use on reducing deaths from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular disease, and reported a 4% higher risk of death with daily multivitamin use in some analyses. - A physician quoted in the article said multivitamins contain both fat- and water-soluble vitamins and minerals, that they are often taken with food for tolerability, and that B vitamins can feel energizing and are typically taken earlier in the day. Summary: The trial reports a modest, measurable slowing of biological aging on epigenetic measures among older adults who took a daily multivitamin, with stronger effects in people who were biologically older than their chronological age. Other research has not shown clear mortality benefits and has reported no reduction in deaths from major diseases and a small increase in mortality in some analyses. Researchers plan follow-up studies to examine broader health effects such as cognitive outcomes and risks of cancer and cataracts.