Can multivitamins slow down aging? New study reveals surprising evidence
Can taking a daily multivitamin slow down the aging process? A new study suggests this, although scientists have advised caution, describing its effects as limited. There are two types of age: chronological age, which refers to the number of years you’ve lived, and biological age, which reflects the body’s actual state. This is typically measured based on changes in DNA, particularly DNA methylation, which changes with age and affects how genes function.
Research conducted in the United States found that taking a daily multivitamin may have a slight effect on some indicators of biological aging. However, whether this directly translates to significant improvements in health is unclear. This study included 958 healthy individuals with an average age of approximately 70 years. They were divided into four groups, where some received multivitamins, some cocoa extract, and some a placebo. During the two-year trial, participants’ blood samples were analyzed and changes in five different parameters of DNA methylation were observed.
Published in the journal Nature Medicine, this research found that those taking multivitamins showed a slight slowing of aging on two out of five epigenetic clocks, especially those that predict mortality risk. Overall, this effect was equivalent to approximately four months of slowing aging over two years. The researchers also found that this effect was slightly greater in those who initially experienced rapid biological aging. This could be due to nutritional deficiencies in their bodies. However, cocoa extract had no significant effect on this process.
Dr. Howard Sesso, the study’s senior author, said that it’s not necessary for everyone to start taking multivitamins, as it’s not yet clear who benefits from them and to what extent. An expert from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health also said that the effect is very small and it’s too early to link it to major health benefits. Meanwhile, according to Dr. Marco D’Antonio, simply taking a multivitamin won’t be beneficial unless you have a healthy lifestyle. The effects of bad habits can’t be completely eliminated by any supplement.