A recent randomized trial suggests taking a daily multivitamin may modestly slow biological aging in older adults. The study, published in Nature Medicine, followed 958 people aged 60 and older for two years and measured cellular aging using five different epigenetic “clocks.”
Study design and results
Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups and took daily pills for 24 months: cocoa extract plus multivitamin, multivitamin plus placebo, cocoa extract plus placebo, or two placebos. Researchers found that people who took a multivitamin showed a slowing of biological aging by about four months. Over the 24-month trial, those on multivitamin supplementation aged roughly 20 months at the cellular level versus 24 months chronologic time according to some epigenetic measures.
The reported benefit was detected by two of the five epigenetic clocks used. People who began the study already showing signs of accelerated biological aging appeared to gain a larger benefit from the multivitamin. The cocoa extract did not affect any measured markers of biological aging.
Study funding and interpretation
The trial received partial funding and product support from Haleon (formerly Pfizer Consumer Healthcare) and Mars Inc.; the companies supplied the multivitamins and cocoa extract, and two authors received funding from them. Investigators report the funders did not contribute to study design.
Investigators cautioned that the effect size is modest and reflects changes in biomarkers rather than direct evidence of fewer heart attacks, cancers, or increased lifespan. As one study author noted, the findings point to a potentially accessible, low-cost approach that might promote healthier aging, particularly for those who are biologically older, but they do not prove that multivitamins extend life.
Practical considerations
Multivitamins are not regulated as strictly as prescription drugs, so actual nutrient content can vary from labels. Typical multivitamin formulations include about a dozen vitamins and roughly ten essential minerals, but formulations and doses differ by product and by age/sex targets.
Supplements can interact with medications and are intended to complement—not replace—a nutrient-rich diet. Older adults often have different nutrient needs: they may need fewer calories but equal or greater amounts of some nutrients, and deficiencies in vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D are common. Protein intake and dietary quality are also important for older adults’ health.
Deciding to use supplements
Health professionals recommend considering individual dietary intake, health status, medications, and laboratory testing when deciding whether to take a multivitamin or other supplements. Lifestyle factors—balanced diet, regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, maintaining healthy weight, and good sleep—remain the major drivers of long-term health and have a greater impact on healthy aging than any single supplement.
Bottom line
This randomized study found a small slowing of biological aging markers among older adults taking a daily multivitamin over two years, with larger apparent benefits in those already showing accelerated biological aging. The result is encouraging but preliminary: it demonstrates changes in aging biomarkers, not proven reductions in disease or mortality. Individuals should discuss supplementation with their healthcare provider to weigh potential benefits, interactions, and appropriate formulations for age and health status.
