A groundbreaking study has suggested that incorporating a daily multivitamin into your routine could potentially slow down the body's biological ageing process, leading to a healthier and more functional later life. Researchers have calculated that consistent use over a two-year period might equate to gaining back about four months of biological youth, measured not by chronological years but by health and cellular function.
The Science Behind Slowing Ageing
Published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, the research focused on epigenetic clocks—specific DNA sites that serve as markers for biological ageing. The study involved analysing blood samples from 958 randomly selected healthy individuals with an average chronological age of 70. Experts examined five key areas of DNA for changes at the beginning of the trial and again after the first and second years.
Compared to a control group taking placebo pills, participants in the multivitamin group demonstrated a slowdown in ageing across all five DNA areas. This deceleration translated to an estimated reduction of approximately four months in biological ageing over the two-year study duration.
Expert Insights and Cautions
Lead author Dr Howard Sesso, associate director of preventive medicine at Mass General Brigham in the US, emphasised the importance of this research. "A lot of people take a multivitamin without necessarily knowing any benefits from taking it, so the more we can learn about its potential health benefits, the better," he stated. Dr Sesso added that the study opens avenues for exploring accessible and safe interventions that promote higher-quality ageing.
However, experts urge caution in interpreting these findings. Dr Laura Sinclair, a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter, noted that while epigenetic clocks are powerful tools, they represent only one aspect of the complex ageing puzzle. Factors such as DNA damage, protein changes, and cellular communication issues also play significant roles.
Dr Sinclair stressed that the study does not advocate for universal daily multivitamin use. "If a person eats a nutritionally balanced diet, then many dietary supplements would probably be superfluous to their individual requirements," she explained. "However, most adults in the UK are actually not eating a nutritionally balanced diet and so probably would benefit from a multivitamin-multimineral."
Mixed Results and Future Research
The study's findings come amidst a backdrop of mixed evidence regarding multivitamins and health outcomes. Previous research, including a 2024 study, found no significant benefit in preventing early death, while other investigations suggest potential positive effects. Many health professionals maintain that a healthy, varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables remains superior to supplement reliance.
Professor Luigi Fontana from the University of Sydney, a director of healthy longevity research, described the trial as well-conducted but advised prudence. "The magnitude of the effect is extremely small, and the effect was not consistent across all the ageing measures tested," she commented. "Overall, the findings are scientifically interesting, but they do not provide convincing evidence that taking a daily multivitamin meaningfully slows human ageing."
Further studies are now underway to determine whether the observed effects are sustainable over longer periods. The research received funding from Mars Edge, a segment of Mars, which included donating the multivitamins used in the study.
