A large analysis of data from nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults followed for more than 20 years found no association between regular multivitamin use and a lower risk of death. The study, “Multivitamin Use and Risk of Death in 3 Prospective U.S. Cohorts,” led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, was published June 26, 2024, in JAMA Network Open.
With 1 in 3 U.S. adults taking multivitamin supplements, the question of whether these supplements reduce mortality is an important public health issue. Using 3 large cohorts with 390,124 participants and over 20 years of follow-up data , 1 study by Loftfield and colleagues investigated the association between multivitamin use and mortality while carefully controlling for potential confounders. Confirming the mostly negative results of previous studies, multivitamin supplementation was not associated with a mortality benefit. In contrast, the risk of mortality was 4% higher among multivitamin users compared with nonusers in the first years of follow-up!!! 1
Many adults in the United States take multivitamins in the hope of improving their health. However, the benefits and harms of regular multivitamin use remain unclear. Previous studies on multivitamin use and mortality have yielded mixed results and have been limited by short follow-up periods.
To further examine the association between long-term regular multivitamin use and overall mortality and death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, researchers analyzed data from three large, geographically diverse prospective studies that included a total of 390,124 U.S. adults who were followed for more than 20 years. Participants included in this analysis were generally healthy and had no history of cancer or other chronic diseases.
Because the study population was so large, included long follow-up and comprehensive information on demographic and lifestyle factors, the researchers were able to reduce the effects of potential biases that might have influenced the findings of other studies. For example, people who take multivitamins may have healthier lifestyles overall, and sicker patients may be more likely to increase their multivitamin use.
The analysis showed that people who took a daily multivitamin had no lower risk of death from any cause than people who took no multivitamin. There was also no difference in the risk of death from cancer, heart disease or cerebrovascular disease. The results were adjusted for factors such as race and ethnicity, education and diet quality.
In addition to evaluating multivitamin use and risk of death in different populations, such as those with documented nutritional deficiencies, the potential impact of regular multivitamin use on other health problems associated with aging is also important, the researchers noted.
Source: https://www.winally.com