MDLinxMultivitamins Could Potentially Shorten Your Lifespan

Multivitamin Use: No Longevity Benefit and Potential Mortality Risk

A comprehensive cohort study published in JAMA Network Open has shed new light on the long-standing debate surrounding multivitamin (MV) supplementation. Analyzing data from nearly 400,000 participants over two decades, the research challenges the widespread belief in the benefits of daily MV intake. The study not only found no association between MV use and increased longevity but also revealed a slight increase in mortality risk among users.

Key Points:

• The study analyzed data from 390,124 generally healthy adults over 20 years.
• Participants were from three prospective cohort studies in the US.
• 40.9% of participants were never smokers, and 40.3% were college-educated.
• Among daily MV users, 49.3% were female and 42.0% were college-educated, compared to 39.3% and 37.9% among nonusers, respectively.
• The median age of participants was 61.5 years, with 55.4% being male.
• During the follow-up period, there were 164,762 deaths.
• Approximately 50,000 deaths were due to cancer, over 35,000 due to heart diseases, and almost 93,000 due to cerebrovascular diseases.
• MV use was not associated with lower all-cause mortality risk in either half of the follow-up period.
• Daily MV use was associated with a 4% higher mortality risk compared to nonuse.
• The study builds on previous research that found insufficient evidence for determining MV benefits and harms.
• MV use decreased by 6% from 1999 to 2011, possibly due to growing uncertainty about its effectiveness.
• Experts recommend focusing on a balanced diet rather than relying on MV supplements.
• Excessive intake of certain vitamins, such as iron or niacin, may be harmful.
• The study emphasizes the importance of obtaining nutrients from whole foods rather than processed supplements.

“Daily multivitamins aren’t going to kill you…but [physicians] do not routinely recommend daily MV use simply because many decades of data haven’t found [any] benefit. The only thing the MV affects is the wallet.”
– Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA

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