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A comprehensive analysis involving nearly 400,000 healthy U.S. adults over more than two decades has found no link between daily multivitamin use and a reduced risk of death. The study, titled “Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts,” was spearheaded by researchers at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and was published on June 26, 2024, in JAMA Network Open.
Despite the widespread use of multivitamins in the United States, motivated by the belief that they enhance health, the long-term benefits and potential harms of regular multivitamin consumption remain ambiguous. Previous studies examining the relationship between multivitamin use and mortality have produced mixed results and were often limited by short follow-up periods.
To provide a more robust examination of the relationship between sustained multivitamin use and overall mortality, including deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer, the researchers analyzed data from three large, geographically diverse prospective studies. These studies collectively tracked 390,124 U.S. adults over more than 20 years. Importantly, the participants in this analysis were generally healthy, with no prior history of cancer or other chronic diseases.
The extensive dataset and prolonged follow-up allowed the researchers to control for various demographic and lifestyle factors, reducing the potential biases that might have influenced the outcomes of previous studies. For instance, individuals who take multivitamins might generally lead healthier lifestyles, while those with poorer health may be more inclined to start taking multivitamins.
The study’s findings revealed that individuals who took daily multivitamins did not have a lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who did not take multivitamins. This lack of association persisted across specific causes of death, including cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular diseases. The results were adjusted for various factors such as race, ethnicity, education level, and diet quality.
The researchers emphasized the importance of assessing multivitamin use and mortality risk among different populations, including those with documented nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, they highlighted the need to explore the impact of regular multivitamin use on other health conditions associated with aging.
For further details, refer to the study by Erikka Loftfield, “Multivitamin Use and Mortality Risk in 3 Prospective US Cohorts,” published in JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18729.
Another related study by Neal D. Barnard and colleagues, “The Limited Value of Multivitamin Supplements,” also published in JAMA Network Open (2024), can be accessed for additional insights. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18965.
