- Home
- Medical news & Guidelines
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology and CTVS
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstretics-Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Pediatrics-Neonatology
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diet
- Nursing
- Paramedical
- Physiotherapy
- Health news
- Fact Check
- Bone Health Fact Check
- Brain Health Fact Check
- Cancer Related Fact Check
- Child Care Fact Check
- Dental and oral health fact check
- Diabetes and metabolic health fact check
- Diet and Nutrition Fact Check
- Eye and ENT Care Fact Check
- Fitness fact check
- Gut health fact check
- Heart health fact check
- Kidney health fact check
- Medical education fact check
- Men's health fact check
- Respiratory fact check
- Skin and hair care fact check
- Vaccine and Immunization fact check
- Women's health fact check
- AYUSH
- State News
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Puducherry
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttrakhand
- West Bengal
- Medical Education
- Industry
Study Finds Daily Multivitamins Don't Help You Live Longer - Video
|
Overview
Many people take daily multivitamins with the hope of extending their lifespan, but recent research indicated these supplements might not deliver on that promise.
The study published in JAMA Network Open analysed data from nearly 400,000 adults over a 20-year period. The median age of participants was 61.5 years, and they were generally healthy with no chronic disease history.
The study found no significant evidence that daily multivitamin use reduced the risk of death from major conditions like heart disease or cancer. In fact, participants who took multivitamins were slightly more likely (4%) to die over the study period compared to those who did not take the supplements. However, it’s important to note that the research did not include individuals with pre-existing vitamin deficiencies, which means the results may not apply to those who require specific vitamins for health reasons.
Multivitamins may not significantly impact longevity for healthy individuals. However, multivitamins can still be beneficial for those with active deficiencies or risk factors, such as poor diet, vegan diets, or a history of bariatric surgery,” said Stephen Vogel, a family medicine physician.
The study highlighted that food and diet are most important for health and longevity and that not everyone needs to take a multivitamin, says Prest. Aside from multivitamins, focus on healthy lifestyle habits like getting enough sleep, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and moving your body daily to help you live a longer, healthier life.
“We recommend discussing vitamin supplements with your healthcare provider. Meeting with a registered dietitian can also provide personalized guidance based on your diet and health history. Supplementation may benefit those with alcohol addiction, poor diets, vegan diets, or a history of bariatric surgery. However, for those with a healthy lifestyle or concerns about the cost of daily multivitamins, supplementation is optional. There's minimal risk in taking multivitamins, so use this information to make informed decisions,” said the authors.
Reference: Barnard ND, Kahleova H, Becker R. The Limited Value of Multivitamin Supplements. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(6):e2418965. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18965
Speakers
Anshika Mishra is a dedicated scholar pursuing a Masters in Biotechnology, driven by a profound passion for exploring the intersection of science and healthcare. Having embarked on this academic journey with a passion to make meaningful contributions to the medical field, Anshika joined Medical Dialogues in 2023 to further delve into the realms of healthcare journalism.