Medical XpressLarge Analysis Finds that for Healthy Adults, Taking Multivitamins Daily is Not Associated with a Lower Risk of Death

A comprehensive study on nearly 400,000 healthy adults finds no link between daily multivitamin use and reduced mortality, prompting a reevaluation of multivitamin efficacy and implications for specific populations with nutritional deficiencies.

A recent study led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute analyzed data from almost 400,000 healthy US adults over more than two decades to assess the impact of daily multivitamin use on mortality. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, indicate that regular multivitamin consumption does not correlate with a reduced risk of death from any cause, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, or cerebrovascular diseases.

Key Points:

• Study Overview: Analyzed data from 390,124 healthy US adults over more than 20 years.
• Research Aim: To explore the relationship between long-term multivitamin use and overall mortality, as well as death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
• Participants: Included adults with no history of cancer or other chronic diseases.
• Methodology: Data derived from three large, geographically diverse prospective studies.
• Key Findings: No association between daily multivitamin use and lower risk of death from any cause.
• Specific Mortality Outcomes: No differences in mortality from cancer, heart disease, or cerebrovascular diseases between multivitamin users and non-users.
• Adjustment Factors: Results adjusted for demographics and lifestyle factors such as race and ethnicity, education, and diet quality.
• Bias Mitigation: Large study population and lengthy follow-up helped reduce potential biases, such as healthier lifestyle habits among multivitamin users or increased use among sicker patients.
• Future Directions: Importance of evaluating multivitamin use in different populations, especially those with nutritional deficiencies.
• Clinical Implications: Reassesses the role of multivitamins in routine health maintenance for the general population.

HCN Medical Memo
You can read the full report here: Erikka Loftfield, Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18729.

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